Undergraduate Admissions

Tulane University, a prestigious private research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is committed to fostering a diverse and international student body. Established in 1834 as a public medical college and later privatized in 1884 through significant endowments, Tulane has grown into a leading institution recognized for its academic rigor and vibrant campus culture. The university actively welcomes undergraduate international students, offering various institutional scholarships to support their educational pursuits. While international students are not eligible for U.S. federal student aid, Tulane provides generous merit-based and limited need-based financial aid opportunities, demonstrating its dedication to making a world-class education accessible to talented students globally.

These scholarships, including the Global Scholarship, Deans' Honor Scholarship, and the highly competitive Stamps Scholarship, aim to recognize outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential, and financial need among its international applicants. Through these awards, Tulane seeks to enrich its campus with diverse perspectives and empower future global leaders. The university's strong academic reputation, coupled with its support for international students, makes it an attractive destination for those seeking an unmatched education in a unique cultural environment.

To be eligible for undergraduate admissions and scholarships at Tulane University as an international student, applicants generally need to meet the following criteria:

• Nationality: Open to non-U.S. citizens from any country.
• Academic Level: Applicants must be applying for a full-time undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree program within Newcomb-Tulane College.
• High School Graduation: Applicants must have successfully completed high school and provide certified copies of their secondary school academic records for at least three full years.
• Academic Performance: Strong academic records are crucial. Competitive applicants for scholarships typically place in the top 20% of the applicant pool based on testing scores (if submitted) and GPA. While there is no official minimum GPA, admitted students generally have a strong academic standing.
• English Language Proficiency: Required for non-native English speakers. Accepted tests include TOEFL (minimum 95+), IELTS (minimum 6.5+), Duolingo English Test (minimum 130+), or Cambridge C1/C2 scores. This requirement may be waived for students who submit SAT or ACT scores (600+ on SAT reading/writing or 27+ on ACT English) or who have studied in a country where English is an official language.
• Financial Need (for need-based aid): To be considered for need-based scholarships, applicants must demonstrate financial need by submitting the CSS Profile and Tulane's Declaration & Certification of Finances form.
• Standardized Tests (Optional but Recommended): While Tulane has a test-optional policy, submitting SAT or ACT scores is preferred and may strengthen a candidate's application for scholarship consideration. Admitted undergraduate students typically have SAT scores between 1410-1500 or ACT scores between 31-34.

Tulane University offers a range of scholarships and financial aid to international undergraduate students, varying in coverage from partial to full funding.

• Merit Scholarships: These awards range from $1,000 up to full tuition, with some selected awards potentially covering the full cost of attendance. International students are automatically considered for partial merit scholarships upon completing the Common Application for admission.
• Need-Based Financial Aid: Tulane offers up to $30,000 in need-based financial aid annually to international students who qualify and have not already received an equivalent amount in merit scholarships. Students must reapply for need-based aid each year.
• Global Scholarships: These merit-based scholarships may cover full tuition and fees or even the full cost of attendance, and are renewable for four years (or five years for Architecture students).
• Deans' Honor Scholarship (DHS): A full-tuition award for Bachelor's degrees, covering 100% of the tuition fee.
• Stamps Scholarship: A highly competitive, fully funded scholarship that covers full tuition, fees, housing, meals, and provides enrichment funding.
• Tuition: Merit and need-based scholarships can cover a substantial portion or even all of the tuition fees. For the 2026-2027 academic year, undergraduate tuition is approximately $70,622 per year.
• Housing and Meals: The Stamps Scholarship specifically includes housing and meals. For other awards, housing costs for on-campus options vary, with traditional residence halls averaging around $10,292 per year and suite-style apartments around $12,676 per year. Meals are also an additional estimated expense.
• Books & Supplies: An estimated $1,200 annually, although Tulane offers a program for undergraduates to access all textbooks and course materials.
• Other Perks: Recipients of the Global Scholarship gain access to Tulane's esteemed faculty, diverse course offerings, career development resources, and a rich cultural exchange experience in New Orleans. The Stamps Scholarship also includes enrichment funding. An International/Undocumented Student Emergency Fund is also available for students facing financial challenges.

It is important to note that the total estimated cost of attendance at Tulane, including direct and indirect costs, was $91,986 for 2024-25, which typically increases by 3-5% annually.

The application process for international undergraduate students at Tulane University involves several steps, with all first-year applicants using the same application forms as domestic students.

1. Complete the Common Application: This is the primary application for admission to Tulane University and serves as the initial step for scholarship consideration. Tulane University does not charge an application fee for international students for its undergraduate programs.
2. Secondary School Transcripts: Submit a certified copy of your secondary school academic record, including grades for at least three full years of secondary education. These must be submitted directly by a school official to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
3. Secondary School Report and Counselor Letter of Recommendation: All first-year applicants must submit a secondary school report and/or an official letter of recommendation from their guidance counselor or head of class. Teacher recommendations are welcome as additional submissions but not as a substitute for the counselor recommendation.
4. Demonstrated English Proficiency: If you are not a native English speaker, submit official scores from TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge C1/C2. Alternatively, a score of 600+ on the SAT reading/writing or 27+ on the ACT English can waive this requirement.
5. Certification of Finances: International students must complete Tulane's Certification of Finances Form. This form becomes available in your Green Wave Portal after starting your application. This document is essential for the university to verify that you have sufficient funds for your studies and to issue immigration documents (Form I-20 or DS-2019).
6. CSS Profile (for need-based aid): If you wish to be considered for Tulane's need-based scholarships, complete the online CSS Profile by the appropriate deadlines.
7. Standardized Test Scores (Optional): While not required, submitting SAT or ACT scores can strengthen your application, especially for scholarship consideration.
8. Personal Statement or Essays: The essays submitted as part of the university application are reviewed and provide insight into the student's goals, experiences, and qualifications.
9. Optional Interview: While not required for international applicants, optional interviews are offered virtually during the summer and fall and can be conducted through services like InitialView, Vericant, or Duolingo English Test.

Tips for Applicants:

• Submit your completed application as early as possible to allow ample time for visa processing.
• All submitted materials must be in English.
• Most documents can be uploaded through the Green Wave Portal, for which you will receive login information after starting an application.
• For optimal scholarship consideration, it is highly recommended to submit the CSS Profile by the recommended deadline.

Tulane University operates on various admission deadlines for undergraduate international students, which also influence scholarship consideration. The deadlines below are typical for the annual application cycle for the 2026-2027 academic year:

• Undergraduate Application Opens: August 1 (for the following Fall admission).
• Early Decision I Deadline: November 1. Decision by December 15.
• Early Action Deadline: November 10. Decision by January 10.
• Early Decision II Deadline: January 15. Decision by February 15.
• Regular Decision Deadline: January 15. Decision by April 1.
• CSS Profile Deadline (for need-based aid): Highly recommended by February 15.
• Tulane's Declaration & Certification of Finances and Tulane Scholarship Application (via Green Wave Portal): December 5 (recommended for full consideration).
• Undergraduate Regular Decision Results: By April 1.
• Undergraduate Enrollment Deposit Deadline: May 1.

To be most competitive for Global Scholarships and other merit awards, it is advised to submit an Early Action (November 10) or Early Decision (November 1) application.

Tulane University employs a holistic review process to select its undergraduate international students and scholarship recipients, evaluating applicants on a combination of academic merit, personal qualities, and potential contributions to the university community.

Reviewers look for:

• Outstanding Academic Records: Applicants should possess an exceptional academic track record, typically placing them in the top 20% of the applicant pool based on their high school transcripts and, if submitted, standardized test scores. A strong GPA (generally 3.0 or higher is expected, though competitive applicants often have higher) is crucial.
• Strong Standardized Test Scores: While test-optional, submitting competitive SAT (1410-1500) or ACT (31-34) scores can strengthen an application and enhance scholarship consideration.
• English Proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency in English through accepted tests is a key requirement for non-native speakers.
• Compelling Personal Statement/Essays: Essays are reviewed to understand the applicant's goals, experiences, qualifications, aspirations, and potential contributions to Tulane.
• Strong Letters of Recommendation: A letter from a guidance counselor or head of class, along with any additional recommendations, provides insight into the applicant's academic abilities and character.
• Leadership and Extracurricular Engagement: For competitive scholarships like the Presidential Scholarship, exceptional academic achievements, leadership experience, and strong extracurricular profiles are important.
• Demonstrated Financial Need: For need-based scholarships, the CSS Profile and Certification of Finances are reviewed to determine eligibility and the extent of financial assistance.

The selection process for scholarships is often integrated with the admissions process. All applicants are automatically considered for partial merit scholarships by completing the Common Application. Candidates for more competitive scholarships, such as the Global Scholarships, may be invited to participate in a video interview with the international admission committee by March 31. Tulane offers a variety of generous need- and merit-based scholarship opportunities for international students. The university's acceptance rate is around 11.5% to 15%, indicating a highly selective admission process. The number of specific awards like the Global Scholarship or Stamps Scholarship is limited and highly competitive.