University of Louisiana at Monroe

Admissions at the University of Louisiana--Monroe are broadly accessible, while its national standing has experienced a downward trend. In the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, the university stood at 365th among National Universities in 2027, declining from 230th in 2019. The university admitted 84.8% of applicants in 2025, reflecting an open-door admissions posture typical of regional institutions. At the same time, the school maintains substantial pulling power once students receive acceptance offers. Its yield rate reached 35.1% in 2025, which is higher than 89% of peer schools in a group of public comprehensive universities with similar rankings. This relatively strong conversion rate demonstrates that a dependable share of admitted students chooses to enroll, anchored by local interest and targeted academic tracks. For prospective applicants, the university presents minimal admissions difficulty, making it an approachable choice for students seeking admission without intense competition.

The University of Louisiana--Monroe maintains an admissions policy where standardized test scores are optional, though they are considered if submitted. For 2025, published score ranges show that the middle half of enrolled students scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. The vast majority of test takers chose the ACT, with 86 percent of the entering class submitting those scores in 2025. Although a much smaller share submitted the SAT, the university reported a median SAT score of 1280, which was higher than all peer schools in its comparison group of similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. For prospective applicants evaluating their academic profile, these benchmarks indicate that typical test submitters enter with moderate ACT marks, while those submitting SAT scores form a relatively high-performing cohort compared to peer institutions.

Undergraduate degree completions at the University of Louisiana--Monroe are moderately concentrated in foundational majors, whereas its highest academic recognition rests in specialized professional study. In 2025, the university conferred 1,008 bachelor's degrees, with the top three majors accounting for 31.6% of all undergraduate completions. General psychology was the largest undergraduate program, followed by registered nursing and general studies. However, the largest bachelor's majors do not hold top national rankings; undergraduate psychology was ranked 474th by U.S. News in 2027. The university's primary academic strength lies in graduate pharmacy, which achieved a national ranking of 71st in 2026. Earnings data from 2023 reveal that technical and health-related fields deliver the highest financial returns for graduates. Bachelor's degree recipients in registered nursing earned a median salary of $82,039 one year after graduation, while construction management graduates earned $71,933. Prospective students should note that career earnings and academic standing heavily favor applied health and management tracks.

The student body at the University of Louisiana--Monroe is predominantly female and primarily composed of White and Black students. In 2025, White students formed the largest racial category across every campus division, while women made up a majority of both undergraduate and graduate groups. International participation is concentrated most noticeably at the freshman level, where overseas students numbered 155, accounting for 12.2% of the incoming cohort. In contrast, Asian representation remains small in the entry class, with 8 students comprising 0.6% of freshmen. Across continuing undergraduate cohorts and graduate programs, Asian scholars and international students each constitute modest single-digit shares of enrollment. For prospective applicants considering campus demographics, these figures show an institution centered on domestic regional enrollment, featuring an identifiable international contingent among incoming undergraduates alongside very limited Asian representation.

Undergraduates are predominantly young, with students aged 18 to 19 forming the largest group at 30.6% in 2025. The remainder of the undergraduate population is largely comprised of students of similar traditional college age or dual-enrolled high schoolers. This profile centers undergraduate campus life on early-adulthood transitions and collegiate routines. Graduate students, by comparison, present a wider demographic span. Those in their early twenties represent the largest graduate cohort at 26.4%, while others are in their late twenties, thirties, or beyond. As a result, the university balances a youthful undergraduate environment with an older, career-oriented graduate cohort pursuing advanced degrees.

International enrollment at the University of Louisiana--Monroe has diverged between academic levels over the past decade. Undergraduate international representation grew substantially, reaching 6.5% of undergraduates in 2025. This 6.5% share is higher than 97% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 public comprehensive universities with similar rankings. In contrast, graduate international enrollment decreased, dropping to 3.2% in 2025. Among 2025 graduates, international students earned 4.1% of bachelor's degrees and 5.0% of master's degrees. By field of study, international students show distinct concentrations. At the master's level, international representation is highest in business administration, while doctoral participation is heavily concentrated in pharmacology. At the undergraduate level, biology has the largest international proportion. These patterns show that international interest focuses heavily on business, biological sciences, and pharmaceutical research.

Families considering the University of Louisiana--Monroe can evaluate several neighboring institutions across Louisiana and nearby states. In Louisiana, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is located 155.2 kilometers away and was ranked 202 among National Universities in 2027. Another key option in the state is Tulane University of Louisiana, situated 212.7 kilometers away with a 2027 National Universities ranking of 59. In neighboring Arkansas, Hendrix College is located 179.1 kilometers away and ranked 100 among Liberal Arts Colleges in 2027. In Mississippi, the University of Mississippi lies 193.6 kilometers away, holding a rank of 179 among National Universities in 2027. These four campuses offer distinct alternatives, ranging from private liberal arts study to large public research universities.

Campus safety reports at the University of Louisiana--Monroe indicate that incidents consist predominantly of policy infractions rather than violent crime. In 2025, the university recorded a weighted crime rate per 1,000 students of 4.8. From 2023 to 2025, the overwhelming majority of recorded campus incidents stemmed from disciplinary enforcement of alcohol and drug rules. Over that three-year span, campus authorities handled 82 disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations and 44 disciplinary referrals for drug violations. Criminal offenses occurred with much lower frequency across the same timeframe, including 19 reports of theft, alongside minor counts of drug arrests, stalking, and dating offenses. These numbers indicate that campus disciplinary bodies focus predominantly on substance enforcement rather than addressing pervasive violent crimes. For prospective students and their families, the data shows an environment where personal property awareness is sensible, but overall campus safety concerns remain mild.