University of New Orleans

In the U.S. News & World Report rankings, the University of New Orleans was ranked 382 in 2027, declining over time from rank 230 in 2019. Overall, admission to the university is relatively accessible, though the institution sees modest drawing power among admitted applicants. In 2025, the university posted an acceptance rate of 74.3%, which was higher than 36% of peer schools in a comparison group of similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. Meanwhile, its enrollment yield rate stood at 18.1%, indicating that less than one in five admitted students chose to enroll. For prospective applicants, these figures mean that securing admission is generally achievable, but the university competes heavily with other institutions to attract admitted students to its classrooms.

Applicants to the University of New Orleans face standardized testing thresholds that align with accessible academic benchmarks. For the enrolled class of 2025, the middle 50% composite score on the ACT spanned from 17 to 23. The applicant pool relies predominantly on the ACT, with 82% of freshmen submitting ACT scores. In standardized test comparisons, the school recorded a median SAT score of 1080, which is higher than 70% of peer schools within its comparison group of 30 similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. Institutional records from 2016 to 2017 show that incoming students most commonly earned high school GPAs in the 3.0 to 3.24 range, which accounted for roughly eighteen percent of students. Prospective applicants whose test performance approaches the middle of the ACT composite range or the peer-exceeding SAT median will find themselves in a solid position for admission.

Undergraduate degree completions at the University of New Orleans show moderate concentration rather than heavy focus in a single field. In 2025, the top three bachelor's degree majors accounted for 26.7% of all bachelor's graduates, led by general business administration, biology, and psychology. The university's largest undergraduate programs do not overlap with its most recognized academic programs. In graduate rankings, its highest standing belongs to international business within the business school, which achieved rank 96 in the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings, making it the only program ranked within the top 100. While humanities and basic sciences produce many graduates, technical degrees deliver the strongest early career returns. According to 2023 earnings data, bachelor's graduates in electrical, electronics, and communications engineering earned a median salary of $78,718 one year after graduation, followed closely by mechanical engineering graduates at $74,842. Meanwhile, international representation remains modest among undergraduates, with domestic students making up the vast majority of graduating cohorts.

The student body at the University of New Orleans is ethnically diverse and predominantly composed of undergraduate learners. In 2025, total enrollment reached 6,501 students across all academic divisions. Continuing undergraduates formed the largest single group, where White students constituted the largest share, followed by Black and Hispanic students. Asian students formed a consistent presence across the undergraduate population, including 309 continuing undergraduates who accounted for 9.8% of that cohort. International representation remained modest in undergraduate classes, with freshmen including only a handful of overseas students. By contrast, international enrollment was significantly more pronounced at the graduate level, where overseas scholars numbered 127 students in 2025. Domestic minority students, particularly Black and Hispanic undergraduates, play a central role in campus demographics. Overall, while international students are relatively rare in undergraduate lecture halls, they represent an established segment within advanced graduate programs.

The student body at the University of New Orleans displays a distinct generational division between undergraduate and graduate programs. In 2025, the undergraduate population was centered around traditional college ages, with students aged 18 to 19 making up 27.2% of all undergraduates, followed by students aged 20 to 21 at 25.3%. These cohorts form the core of undergraduate campus life. In contrast, graduate programs primarily enroll working-age adults. The largest graduate segment consists of students aged 25 to 29, who account for 23.5% of all graduate enrollments. This distribution results in a daytime undergraduate environment composed largely of recent high school graduates, coupled with an older graduate student community pursuing professional advancement.

International student enrollment at the University of New Orleans has contracted significantly over the past decade. Between 2016 and 2025, the undergraduate international share dropped from 4.6% to 1.7%, though this 1.7% proportion is still higher than 57% of its peer group of 30 similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. Graduate programs saw a parallel contraction, with international students comprising 11.7% of the graduate population in 2025. Across degree completions, international representation rises steadily with educational attainment. International students made up a small fraction of bachelor's degree recipients, but accounted for nearly one-seventh of master's graduates and half of all doctoral recipients in 2025. In terms of academic fields, undergraduate international students are modestly represented in computer science, whereas international master's candidates heavily favor engineering science. At the doctoral level, international scholars earned the vast majority of degrees in business economics and every degree awarded in engineering science, indicating that international enrollment at the university is primarily concentrated within advanced technical and quantitative research curricula.

Students considering the University of New Orleans can explore several public and private options within Louisiana and neighboring states. Located just 6.9 kilometers away in the same city, Tulane University of Louisiana is a private institution holding a rank of 59 in the 2027 national university rankings. For students seeking a major public flagship within the state, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College sits 71.6 kilometers from campus in Baton Rouge and carries a rank of 202. Across state borders, Mississippi State University offers an alternative public research environment located 248.4 kilometers away, with a rank of 208. These nearby universities provide families with distinct institutional profiles, ranging from selective private education to large state research flagships within driving distance of New Orleans.

Campus safety at the University of New Orleans shows a manageable environment where reported incidents have decreased over time. In 2025, the school reported a crime rate of 5.7 per 1,000 students, marking an overall decline from 2016. Across the reporting period from 2023 to 2025, dating violence represented the largest category of reported offenses, totaling 31 incidents. Theft was the next most common issue, while motor vehicle theft, drug law violations, liquor law violations, and rape occurred in smaller counts. Because relationship-related offenses and property crimes make up the bulk of campus reports, families evaluating student life should look closely at how the university handles residence hall security and personal relationship safety. For incoming students, these records suggest that while violent crime is relatively limited, everyday vigilance regarding personal belongings and relationship boundaries remains an essential part of living safely on campus.