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Tulane University scholarships, grants and student loans
Merit- and need-based funding for NOLA undergrads.
Tulane might technically cost nearly $75,000 a year. But its robust financial aid programs mean students might not have to pay nearly that much — even international students. The most generous scholarships are often only available to Early Decision applicants, so apply early if you want to avoid student loans.
How much does it cost to go to Tulane?
| Costs of attending Tulane | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $56,800 |
| Room | $9,010 |
| Board | $6,764 |
| Books | $1,200 |
| Other expenses | $1,086 |
| Transportation | Varies |
| Total cost for the 2019–2020 academic year | $74,860 |
Like other schools, Tulane University’s cost of attendance (COA) goes beyond tuition and fees to include textbooks and other miscellaneous expenses. It also factors in transportation costs, which vary depending on where you live.
How much will I actually pay?
While a price tag nearing $75,000 sounds like a lot, students rarely ever pay the full price, even if they take out student loans. Students typically only pay an average of $34,240 per year, according to the Department of Education (DoE).
Here’s a breakdown of what the average student pays based on family income:
| Family income | Average cost |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $10,302 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $18,718 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $25,120 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $32,735 |
| $110,000+ | $41,942 |
What’s the average student debt load for Tulane graduates?
The average Tulane student graduates with a total of $27,000 in student debt after earning a four-year bachelor’s degree, according to the DoE. Around 30% of students receive federal student loans.
Does Tulane offer a tuition payment plan?
Yes, Tulane offers a Tuition Installment Prepayment Plan (TIPP) that allows you to break up your semester cost into installments rather than paying it all at once. It can cover tuition and fees, room and board, and health insurance if you sign up through the school.
It costs $30 a semester to enroll. You have the option of breaking up the cost into three, four or five monthly installments, which begin before the semester begins. The tuition payment plan for the Fall 2019 semester started on April 16, 2019. The Spring 2020 payment plan begins on September 14, 2019.
Tulane scholarships
Tulane offers a variety of merit- and need-based financial aid to students. Unlike other schools, it refers to both types of funding as scholarships. Some might require applications, while Tulane automatically considers all students for others.
Deans’ Honor Scholarship
| Amount | Full tuition |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | You can qualify for this scholarship if you meet the following criteria:
While there’s no minimum SAT or ACT score, you generally need an SAT score above 1400 or an ACT score over 31 to receive this award. |
This merit-based scholarship covers tuition for graduating high school students with strong academics and community involvement. It requires a separate application, and you must apply for early admission to be considered. The deans of Tulane’s five undergraduate schools review and decide on the applicants. You should find out if you’ve been selected by late February.
Paul Tulane Award
| Amount | Full tuition |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | To qualify for this scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:
While there’s no minimum SAT or ACT score, you generally need an SAT score above 1400 or an ACT score over 31 to receive this award. |
Like the Deans’ Honor Scholarship, this merit-based scholarship is also only available to early-admission students. Instead of submitting a creative project, you’re required to write two short essays, which you submit along with the application. A committee selected by the Dean of Admission chooses the scholars. You should find out if you’re selected by February.
Stamps Scholarship
| Amount | Total cost of attendance, plus an enrichment fund to cover additional academic-related activities |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | You must meet the following requirements to qualify for this scholarship:
|
Only five undergraduate students with demonstrated leadership skills receive Tulane’s most prestigious scholarship. It goes beyond tuition to cover your full cost of attendance plus additional funds to foot the bill for an unpaid internship, study abroad, conference fees or other academic-related endeavors. If you’re selected as a finalist, Tulane will ask you in for an interview in early spring.
Community Service Fellowship
| Amount | Up to $20,000 per year |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | To receive this scholarship, you must:
You also must make several commitments during the academic year:
|
Each year, around 15 undergraduate students with a track record of community service and strong academics receive this award. If you qualify, you can use it in combination with other merit-based scholarships to foot the cost of tuition.
To be considered, you must submit a separate application that includes a recommendation from a supervisor at one of your service projects. Applicants should receive a response by April 1st. If you’re selected, you have to commit to 100 hours of community service and participate in leadership activities on campus with the help of the Center for Public Service.
Global Scholarship
| Amount | Partial or full tuition — renewable for up to four years for most programs, five years for the Architecture program |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | You must be an international student who meets the following requirements to qualify:
|
This merit-based tuition scholarship is only available to international students with strong academics who apply for early admission. Unlike many of Tulane’s other scholarships, you must be invited to apply. If you’re invited, the admissions committee will conduct a video interview with you by March 31st.
Brandt Dixon Scholarship
| Amount | Partial or full cost of attendance — renewable for up to four years |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | This scholarship is only available to Latin American women in Tulane’s Liberal Arts program. |
This merit-based scholarship is only open to female students from Latin America in the Liberal Arts program. It can cover all or some of your tuition for up to four years. Tulane automatically considers eligible candidates, so there’s no application to submit.
Sub-Saharan Africa Leadership Award
| Amount | Full tuition — renewable for up to four years |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | You must be a full-time undergraduate student from a country in Sub-Saharan Africa. |
Tulane automatically considers all Sub-Saharan African students for this full-tuition scholarship. Unlike the Brandt Dixon Scholarship, this one is open to all types of undergraduate degrees. The admissions committee selects students based on academic merit and extracurriculars, so there’s no additional application required.
Tulane Need-Based Scholarship
| Amount | Varies depending on financial need |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | You must meet the following criteria to qualify:
To apply, you must submit the following:
Tulane might request additional documents to determine your financial need. |
This merit- and need-based scholarship considers your academic record and finances when you apply. You can renew it as long as you remain eligible, though it requires you to submit several documents and forms. All students are eligible as long as they meet enrollment and academic standards.
Tulane’s No Loan Assistance (NOLA) Scholarship
| Amount | The remaining cost of attendance after other scholarships and grants |
|---|---|
| Eligibility requirements | You must meet the following requirements to qualify for this scholarship:
To apply, you must submit the following:
|
This merit- and need-based scholarship is available to students who come from low-income households. It’s a supplementary scholarship meant to cover your cost of attendance after all other aid — so you don’t have to take out student loans. Tulane automatically considers all eligible students who complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile and submit all required documents.
Are there other scholarships and grants available?
Yes, Tulane students are also eligible for the following scholarships and award programs:
- Musicianship Scholarship
- Tulane University Marching Band (TUMB) Scholarship
- Louisiana Resident Awards
- Partial Tuition Merit Scholarship
- Athletic Scholarship
- ROTC Scholarship
- Tuition Exchange Scholarship
- Tulane National Merit Scholarship
- Tuition Waiver Program
- Stellar Tulane Academic Recognition (STAR) Award
- Veteran’s educational benefits — including the Yellow Ribbon Program
Students can also apply for outside scholarships and grants. Louisiana and New Orleans residents have the most options, since they can apply for state- and city-based scholarships and grants. If you’re a resident of another state, you might want to look into financial aid programs back home.
Student loans to pay for Tulane
Didn’t get enough funding? You’re not alone. Around 30% of Tulane students take out federal student loans — and more might borrow privately. You can apply for federal loans by filling out the FAFSA. If you’ve reached your limit, are an international student or otherwise can’t qualify, you might want to consider private student loans.
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Explore your options by APR, minimum credit score, loan amount and loan term. Select the Get started button to start an application with a specific lender.
Bottom line
Tulane might have a high price tag. But its financial aid program is extensive enough that you might not need to borrow much — if at all — to attend. You can learn more about how to fund your college years by reading our guide to student loans.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tulane offer financial aid to law students?
Yes. Tulane offers partial and full-tuition scholarships to Tulane Law’s Master of Laws (LLM) and Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) candidates. However, there’s only a limited amount of funding for SJD students since it’s already a discounted program.
Students are responsible for covering other costs of attendance, like living expenses. To apply, submit the Financial Data and Scholarship Application form along with your admissions application.
What salary can I expect after graduating Tulane?
Tulane graduates earn an average starting salary of $61,700 after completing its four-year bachelor’s degree program, according to the DoE.
What SAT score do I need to get into Tulane?
Tulane students who were admitted and enrolled typically had SAT scores ranging from 1330 to 1490 and ACT scores ranging from 30 to 33, according to the DoE.
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