University of Louisiana at Lafayette College Portrait
University of Louisiana at Lafayette104 University Circle Lafayette, LA 70504
(337) 482-6467
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Our Vision is...to further the University’s evolution as a distinctive institution recognized as a catalyst for transformation—of students, faculty, staff, Acadiana, Louisiana, and the globe—through its engagement in research, scholarship, creativity, and the enhancement of our unique culture.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the second largest university in the state, with about 17,000 students, and the largest in the nine-member University of Louisiana System. As a public, selective admissions institution, UL Lafayette awards bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The University is dedicated to achieving excellence in education, research and public service. Academic programs are administered by eight colleges - Arts, Education, Engineering, General Studies, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, the Moody College of Business, and the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences - and the Graduate School. UL Lafayette is a national leader in computer science, environmental biology and nursing. Student-athletes - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns - compete in NCAA Division I, the highest level of collegiate competition. UL Lafayette is located in a region known for extraordinary food, music, hospitality and joie de vivre that are hallmarks of its distinctive Cajun and Creole cultures.
Living in the Ragin' Cajuns Community
Consisting of approximately 120,000 people, the City of Lafayette is located in south central Louisiana and serves as the economic and cultural hub of Acadiana, home to over 600,000 residents. A recent issue of Southern Business and Development magazine named Lafayette as a Top 10 place in the South for the "creative class" - citing Lafayette's entrepreneurial spirit and technological advantages such as city-wide fiber-to-the-home. Milken Institute recently named Lafayette one of its Best Performing Cities and Foreign Direct Investment magazine (fDi) named Lafayette in its North American Cities of the Future issue, including ranking on the Top 5 list for Best Quality of Life for small cities with populations between 100,000 - 500,000.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a vibrant member of a culturally sophisticated community that has an intimate feel. On campus, students can view major art exhibits at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, watch musical and theatrical performances, catch big name acts in the 12,000-seat Cajundome and support their favorite Ragin' Cajun sports teams. There are plenty of off-campus entertainment offerings, too. Downtown Lafayette, which is within walking distance of campus, features live music, art galleries and restaurants. Festivals abound in the area throughout the year; Mardi Gras reigns supreme. UL Lafayette students embody the spirit of the region's unique Cajun and Creole heritage. That means they work hard and play hard. They value family and respect each other's religious beliefs. They embrace diversity and treat strangers like family. Their compassion for others inspires public service. The seamless blend of campus and community creates a synergy that sets UL Lafayette apart from other universities.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2012?
More Information
| Total Students | 16,687 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 15,143 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 8,581 | 57% |
| Men | 6,562 | 43% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 72 | <1% |
| Asian | 290 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 3,182 | 21% |
| Hispanic | 423 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 4 | <1% |
| White | 10,465 | 69% |
| Two or More Races | 188 | 1% |
| International | 295 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 224 | 1% |
| Where do UL Lafayette undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | 93% |
| Other US States & Territories | 5% |
| Other Countries | 2% |
| How old are UL Lafayette undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 15% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2012)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT |
|---|---|
| Composite | 21 - 25 |
| Math | 19 - 24 |
| English | 20 - 26 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 44% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 76% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 91% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.28 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 97% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,283
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- <1% of full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $0. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- <1% of full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $0. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2011 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UL Lafayette Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 22 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 64% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 91% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 596 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 44% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 17% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 65% |
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Campus-based Housing
50% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
17% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Police Department is committed to providing a safe environment. From its campus headquarters, officers maintain 24-hour patrol coverage on foot, bicycles or in motor vehicles. Officers are fully trained police academy graduates who have been commissioned by the State of Louisiana. University Police takes a proactive approach to campus security through public safety programs, campus escort services, maintenance of an emergency call system, mobile alert systems, and crime prevention campaigns. It has strong working relationships with area law enforcement agencies.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate professional (other dominant fields)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at UL Lafayette
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 92.0% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 51.0% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 17.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 80.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 13.0% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 44.0% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 51.0% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 5.0% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 90.0% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 94.0% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 73.0% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 61.0% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94.0% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 58.0% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 77.0% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 96.0% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 66.0% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 63.0% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 86.0% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 57.0% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 82.0% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 84.0% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 83.0% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2011-12 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 2,296 |
| Master's | 344 |
| Doctoral | 49 |
| Total | 2,689 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2011-12 | |
|---|---|
| General Studies. | 16% |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 6% |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 6% |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. | 5% |
| Finance, General. | 4% |
| Links to degree programs at University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 77% four-year success and progress rate means that 77% of students starting in Fall 2006 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2006 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,796 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 447 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2011 that returned for their second year: 74%