University of Louisiana

<h4 id="section---Pros">Pros</h4> <ul><li>Named one of the best universities in the southeast </li><li>Total cost (including all school and living expenses) is lower than the national average for out-of-state students </li><li>High number of academic programs </li><li>Accepts AP and dual credits </li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons">Cons</h4> <ul><li>Graduation rate is 28 percentage points lower than the national average </li><li>Student-faculty ratio is 23:1, which is higher than the national average </li></ul><h3 id="section---RankingsSchoolAnalysis">Rankings &amp; School Analysis</h3> <p>In 2013, the university was named a 'Best Southeastern' school by the Princeton Review. As a UL Lafayette student, you'll be able to choose from 78 bachelor's programs, 27 master's programs and nine doctoral degrees. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that 60% of applicants were accepted, close to the national average, and 74% of full-time and 38% of part-time students returned to the university after their first year. Roughly 12% of students graduated within four years, well below the national average of 40%; about 41% completed their degrees within six years. The university's student-faculty ratio is 23:1, which is higher than the national average of 16:1. </p> <p>The total cost of attendance in 2012-2013 was $18,097 for Louisiana residents, slightly over the national average of $17,860 for in-state students. Non-residents paid approximately $27,067 during that period, slightly lower than the $30,911 national average for out-of-state students. The NCES reported that 12.3% of attendees defaulted on their loans within three years of graduation. </p> <h2 id="section---AdmissionsFinancialAidAtULLafayette">Admissions &amp; Financial Aid at UL Lafayette</h2> <p>According to the NCES, roughly half of accepted students chose to attend the university. To apply, you'll need to submit the school's online application, your high school transcript and standardized test scores. In 2012, 96% of applicants took the ACT, with only 8% submitting SAT scores. The middle 50% of admitted students that year scored between 20 and 25 on the composite ACT. Test scores are due at the school by August 10. </p> <p>UL Lafayette was named the most affordable university in Louisiana by the U.S. Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency List. NCES reported that about 90% of first-year undergraduates received some type of financial aid, and the College Board showed that 6% had their full need met. As an undergraduate, you may qualify for need-based aid, academic scholarships or merit scholarships in areas such as dance, theatre, music, visual arts and debate. If you're entering a graduate program, you may eligible for assistantships or fellowships. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Application and Tuition Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Priority Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td> June 30**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Financial Aid Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td> May 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Application Fee (2013)</i> </td><td> $25***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Acceptance Rate (2012)</i> </td><td> 60%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>All Tuition &amp; Living Expenses (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> $18,097 for in-state and $27,067 for out-of-state students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Financial Aid Package (2012)</i> </td><td> $8,073***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Percent of Students with Need Met (2012)</i> </td><td> 6%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i> </td><td> 12.3%*</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---StudentLifeAtULLafayette">Student Life at UL Lafayette</h2> <p>According to 2011 figures from the NCES, 57% of students at UL Lafayette were female, 96% were Louisiana residents and 1% came from other countries. The diverse student body was 70% White, 21% Black/African-American, 3% Hispanic/Latino and 2% Asian. UL Lafayette requires all freshmen to live on campus, and older students may apply for housing space in the university's Legacy Park apartments. Your housing options include co-ed residence halls, a women-only hall, apartments and family housing. Students with children can also take advantage of on-campus daycare facilities. </p> <p>If you're looking for extracurricular activities, UL Lafayette offers more than 150 student organizations, 23 Greek chapters and 9 NCAA Division 1 sports. Depending on your field of study, you may also have a chance to use some of the university's academic resources, including nuclear accelerators, electron microscopes, a marine research facility, an on-campus restaurant and hotel, a nursery school laboratory and a television production studio. Additional facilities are located in the school's 148-acre University Research Park. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Setting</i> </td><td> Midsize city</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Population (2011)</i> </td><td> 15,321 undergraduates, 1,564 graduate students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2011)</i> </td><td> 43% to 57%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Full Time Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 85%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of In-state Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 96%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Retention Rate (2010-2011)</i> </td><td> 74% for full-time and 38% for part-time students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Housing Available</i> </td><td> Yes*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Students Living on Campus</i> </td><td> 17%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> 1**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> Over 150**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Noteworthy</i> </td><td> Ranked among the best universities in the southeast****</td></tr> </table><p><i>Article Sources: *NCES College Navigator, **University of Louisiana at Lafayette, ***The College Board, ****The Princeton Review.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolContactInformation"> School Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> Office of Admissions, PO Box 41210, Lafayette, LA 70504 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (337) 482-6460</li></ul>