Updated: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Tulane University offers classic southern charm and intellectual rigor with the unique cultural landscape that only New Orleans can offer. A strong school spirit and a singular sense of place pervade the campus at this mid-sized, private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana.
How to Get into Tulane: Table of Contents
Tulane has a few different deadlines for its different application types. Overall, it has a traditional application deadline timeline.
Tulane University has four different application types, each with a different deadline: Early Decision, Early Action, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision. They do not offer rolling admission. Below are the different application types with their respective deadlines:
Early Decision is an early application with a binding agreement. This means you can only apply to one university Early Decision. If you are admitted to Tulane Early Decision, you agree to withdraw any other active applications and enroll at Tulane.
Early Decision II is the same binding agreement as Early Decision. The main difference is that the application deadline is later. As listed above, Tulane’s Early Decision application deadline is November 1, but Tulane’s Early Decision II application deadline is January 13.
Meanwhile, Early Action is an early application type that is non-binding. This means you can apply to multiple places Early Action as long as they are not Restrictive Early Action (REA) or Single Choice Early Action (SCEA). Tulane is not Restrictive or Single Choice Early Action, so there is no restriction on applying to other universities if you apply early to Tulane. Early Action gives applicants the chance to show their interest in Tulane early and receive their admission results early. It is a good option for students with strong grades throughout high school who feel their profile is competitive without initially submitting their first semester senior grades as part of their application. Because it is non-binding, Early Action applicants are not required to enroll and attend if they are admitted.
Regular Decision is a standard application type with a deadline typically between mid-December and mid-January. Tulane’s Regular Decision deadline, as listed above, is later than most, on February 1. Regular Decision is a non-binding application type. Students receive their admission decisions by April 1.
Finally, rolling admission is when applications are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing, rolling basis. Tulane does not offer rolling admission.
Learn more about early, rolling, and regular application options.
The waitlist is just one of the possible admissions decisions applicants can receive — being waitlisted is neither an admission or a rejection, but rather a “maybe.” Students may choose to accept or deny a waitlist offer. If you accept your spot on the Tulane waitlist, you may be given the opportunity to enroll if space becomes available. However, the chances of being admitted off the waitlist are small — Tulane waitlisted 4,192 applicants for fall 2024 and ultimately admitted 432.
Students may receive a deferral notification after applying to Tulane Early Decision, Early Decision II, or Early Action. If you are deferred, your application will be reconsidered during the Regular Decision round. It can be hard to know what to do if you have been deferred — Tulane has specific instructions for applicants who receive a deferral notification.
Tulane asks deferred students to fill out a continued interest form, which replaces any letter of continued interest you would otherwise write and submit. Pay close attention to communications from Tulane about submitting or not submitting any additional materials or updates.
Tulane is considered a highly selective institution, as these admissions rates show:
To have a chance of gaining admission to Tulane, you should consider preparing your application early. Preparing your application isn’t just about preparing admission essays and achieving high standardized test scores. It’s also about being strategic in your application process, since Tulane college admissions uses the holistic review process that considers many aspects of an applicant beyond academic strengths.
Admissions officers at Tulane review each application holistically. So, what does Tulane look for? Tulane is looking for engaged, academically strong students from all walks of life who are ready to build a home for themselves in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Like other highly selective American institutions, Tulane is looking for specialized students who have a strong narrative of both academic and extracurricular interests and passions. Admissions officers look for students who will be positive and impactful additions to the campus community.
Visiting campus is the singular most effective way to get to know a college or university. Tulane offers campus tours, which start with a 30-minute information session hosted by an admissions officer, followed by a student-led tour that lasts approximately 90 minutes. Prospective students can also participate in Campus Preview Days in the fall and spring. Tulane does not currently offer class visits.
Speaking to a current student is one of the best ways for prospective students to learn more about the university. Students tend to give the most transparent and unfiltered assessments of their schools and of their experiences at those schools.
Tulane has several opportunities for you to meet and interact with current students while visiting campus. In addition to the student-led campus tours, Campus Preview Days in the fall and spring include student panels. During the summer, Tulane offers Application Launch Events where students can get tailored information about every aspect of the college application process.
Prospective students can learn about student experiences by visiting campus or speaking to current students. If you are interested in connecting with a student in a particular major or from your high school, it’s likely that your admissions officer from Tulane can help facilitate that. You can use Tulane’s Meet Us page to find the admissions officer for your region and reach out about potential connections. Hearing firsthand about student experiences is one of the best ways to learn more about a school and find out if the school is a good fit for you.
Tulane requires first-year students to apply through the Common Application. This application will consist of both hard and soft factors that give the admissions committee insight into who you are — not just as a student, but as a member of your school and the broader community.
Tulane does not have official GPA requirements for admission. However, it is helpful to consider the profile of their admitted students so you can have some idea of what Tulane looks for. For example, the average GPA for students enrolled in the class of 2028 was 3.70, so you stand a better chance of admission if you maintain a high GPA.
Tulane currently has a test-optional admissions policy, but we always advise to submit your test scores if they enhance your applicant profile. So, what’s considered a good test score at Tulane? Of the students in the class of 2028 who submitted test scores, the middle 50% had a score range of 1,410-1,500 on the SAT and 31-34 on the ACT.
The personal statement is one of the most important qualitative or “soft” factors of the Common Application process. Students should get started on this early, at least in their junior year. It’s one of the best opportunities for students to introduce themselves to schools on the page, beyond the numbers. It’s an opportunity for students to showcase the strongest elements of their narrative, and to tie all the threads together to make their case for admissions.
Tulane’s undergraduate application requires you to respond to one of the Common App essay prompts. Additionally, students can submit an additional essay explaining their interest in Tulane — this is optional but recommended.
Tulane requires a counselor recommendation along with a school report — a teacher recommendation is not required. If they receive recommendation letters from teachers or anyone else, they will review and include them in that student’s file. However, they are completely optional. Submitting a teacher recommendation in your Tulane application, however, may help boost your chances of admissions, as it demonstrates interest and helps the school get an even better idea of who you are both inside and outside of the classroom.
Although Tulane University offered admissions interviews briefly during earlier stages of the pandemic, the admissions office did not host interviews for the most recent application cycles. Prospective students should check with Tulane’s office of undergraduate admission for updates.
Tulane is the first private research university to implement a public service graduation requirement for its students. This is a big deal — most universities espouse the importance of service but don’t require it of their students. This requirement really shapes the ethos of Tulane as a service-focused, community-driven educational environment.
The university’s Center for Public Service makes sure that public service is an integrated part of the curriculum, offering public service internships, Peace Corps prep, and service learning courses.
We mentioned that Tulane is competitive. So, you may be wondering how many people apply to Tulane. The university received 32,609 applications for fall 2024 admission and ultimately admitted 4,559.
| Acceptance rate | 13.98% |
| Class size | 1,838 |
| Undergraduate majors | 70+ |
Located across from New Orleans’ beautiful Audubon Park, Tulane’s singularity is obvious as soon as you step foot on campus. It’s a campus steeped in a strong sense of history and place. Founded in 1884 from what was originally the Medical College of Louisiana and then the University of Louisiana, Tulane has grown up along with the city of New Orleans, developing from a smaller, regional hub to an influential and international global hub for arts, education, and beyond.
Tulane isn’t too big, with a student population of about 7,000 undergraduates. That said, Tulane hosts more than 200 student organizations through which students make a significant impact on the campus community.
The university also boasts two museums: the Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane and the Tulane Museum of Natural History. The Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane is located on campus and houses the world’s largest collection of Newcomb Arts and Crafts, objects created between the late 19th century and the mid-20th century at Newcomb College — the women’s college associated with Tulane’s College of Arts and Sciences until Tulane became coed in 1972.
The Tulane Museum of Natural History is located just outside of New Orleans in the town of Belle Chasse. The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane administers this museum, which houses an extensive collection of fossils and animal specimens.
If you’re considering whether Tulane is the right fit for you, ask yourself a few more questions.
If the answer to all three of these questions is yes, Tulane might be a good fit.
What is the average SAT/ACT score for admitted students?
For the class of 2028, the middle 50% had a score range of 1,410-1,500 on the SAT and 31-34 on the ACT.
Is Tulane test optional?
Tulane is currently test optional.
Does Tulane offer Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA)?
Yes. Tulane offers both ED and EA options, with ED being binding and EA non-binding.
What GPA do I need to get into Tulane?
While there are no strict minimums for all programs, the average GPA for the class of 2028 was 3.70.
Does Tulane consider demonstrated interest?
Yes, Tulane University considers demonstrated interest in the admissions process to be important. This can include campus visits, engaging with admissions representatives, or applying Early Decision.
After reading and better understanding what it takes to gain admission to Tulane University, it’s easy to understand why families may be interested in hiring an admissions counselor.
Students who are serious about gaining admission to their top-choice school and who are ready to do the work should hire an admissions counselor. While students can manage this process on their own, working with an admissions counselor can streamline the process, taking out some of the anxiety and confusion and replacing it with guidance and reassurance. Students who are not ready to put time and effort into the process may not benefit from working with an admissions counselor.
Getting into Tulane is no easy task. Thankfully, IvyWise’s admissions experts can help you optimize your college admissions profile to increase your chances of gaining admission. Take the first step toward getting into your top-choice schools and schedule an Initial Consultation.
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