What are Tulane University's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:
- GPA requirements
- Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
- Application requirements
In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Tulane University and build a strong application.
School location: New Orleans, LA
Admissions Rate: 17.3%
If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.
The acceptance rate at Tulane University is 17.3%. For every 100 applicants, only 17 are admitted.

This means the school isextremely selective. Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation. If you don't meet their expectations, your chance of getting in is nearly zero.
After crossing this hurdle, you'll need to impress Tulane University application readers through their other application requirements, including extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation. We'll cover more below.
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Tulane University GPA Requirements
Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.
The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.
Average GPA: 3.56
The average GPA at Tulane University is 3.56.

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.
With a GPA of 3.56, Tulane Universityrequires you to be around average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, and very few C's. If you have a lower GPA, you can compensate with harder courses like AP or IB classes. This will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes.
If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.56, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.
SAT and ACT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Most schools require the SAT or ACT, and many also require SAT subject tests.
You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to Tulane University. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application.
Tulane University SAT Requirements
Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.
Average SAT: 1420
The average SAT score composite at Tulane University is a 1420 on the 1600 SAT scale.
This score makes Tulane University Strongly Competitive for SAT test scores.
Tulane University SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
The 25th percentile SAT score is 1350, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1490. In other words, a 1350 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1490 will move you up to above average.
Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
Math | 720 | 680 | 760 |
Reading + Writing | 700 | 670 | 730 |
Composite | 1420 | 1350 | 1490 |
SAT Score Choice Policy
The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.
Tulane University ACT Requirements
Just like for the SAT, Tulane University likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.
Average ACT: 32
The average ACT score at Tulane University is 32. This score makes Tulane University Strongly Competitive for ACT scores.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 30, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 33.
Even though Tulane University likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 30 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 32 and above that a 30 will look academically weak.
ACT Score Sending Policy
If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.
Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.
This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 33 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.
ACT Superscore Policy
By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.
We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Tulane University, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 33.
Studying for the ACT instead? Want to learn how to improve your ACT score by 4 points?
SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements
Both the SAT and ACT have an optional essay section.
Tulane University recommends that you take the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section. If you do well, they'll consider your application to be stronger.
SAT Subject Test Requirements
Schools vary in their SAT subject test requirements. Typically, selective schools tend to require them, while most schools in the country do not.
We did not find information that Tulane University requires SAT subject tests, and so most likely it does not. At least 6 months before applying, you should still doublecheck just to make sure, so you have enough time to take the test.
Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT/ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in. If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.
To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1490 SAT or a 33 ACT. You should also have a 3.56 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
For a school as selective as Tulane University, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
But if you apply with a score below a 1490 SAT or a 33 ACT, you unfortunately start out with the odds against you and have a tiny chance of getting in. There are just too many students with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.
Want to build the best possible college application?
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
Admissions Calculator
What are your chances of admission at Tulane University?
Chances of admission with these scores:
Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.
Pick your test:SATACT
SAT Score
Your GPA
Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.
How would your chances improve with a better score?
Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program. We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.
Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:
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- Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts. PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements
Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Tulane University here.
Application Requirements Overview
- Common ApplicationAccepted
- Universal ApplicationNot accepted
- Electronic ApplicationAvailable
- Essay or Personal StatementRequired for all freshmen
- Letters of Recommendation1
- InterviewNot required
- Application FeeNo fee required for domestic applicants
- Fee Waiver Available?None
- Other Notes
Testing Requirements
- SAT or ACTRequired
- SAT Essay or ACT WritingRecommended
- SAT Subject Tests
- Scores Due in OfficeJanuary 15
Coursework Requirements
- SubjectRequired Years
- English
- Math
- Science
- Foreign Language
- Social Studies
- History
- Electives
Deadlines and Early Admissions
- Offered?DeadlineNotification
- Regular Admission
- YesJanuary 15April 1
- Early Action
- YesNovember 15December 15
- Early Decision
- YesNovember 1
Admissions Office Information
- Address:6823
New Orleans, LA 70118 - Phone:(504) 865-5731
- Fax:(504) 862-8715
- Email:[emailprotected]
Other Schools For You
If you're interested in Tulane University, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Tulane University.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Tulane University. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 1505 | 34 |
Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 1505 | 34 |
University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 1500 | 34 |
Brown University | Providence, RI | 1485 | 34 |
Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 1480 | 34 |
Tufts University | Medford, MA | 1465 | 33 |
Northeastern University | Boston, MA | 1465 | 34 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
If you're competitive for Tulane University, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
New York University | New York, NY | 1440 | 32 |
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 1435 | 33 |
Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 1435 | 33 |
Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 1420 | 33 |
Boston University | Boston, MA | 1420 | 32 |
University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 1415 | 31 |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY | 1409 | 31 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
If you're currently competitive for Tulane University, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Tulane University is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
Binghamton University | Vestal, NY | 1375 | 30 |
University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | 1355 | 29 |
University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, TX | 1350 | 30 |
Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | 1335 | 29 |
University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1315 | 29 |
Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | 1300 | 30 |
University of California, Davis | Davis, CA | 1280 | 28 |
Want to build the best possible college application?
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
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