Admit rate has ranged 39%–80% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Dillard University, Louisiana's oldest HBCU, blends rigorous liberal arts traditions with standout nursing and mass communication programs. With a tight-knit campus of 1,200 students and a 14:1 faculty ratio, it offers an intimate, culturally rich education in New Orleans—where jazz funerals and Mardi Gras Indians inspire as much as the classroom.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,063
In-state tuition
$23,918
Out-of-state tuition
$23,918
Founded
1869 (Louisiana's oldest HBCU)
Location
New Orleans, LA
Notable Fact
Hosts the annual 'Battle of the Bands' against Xavier and Southern
Avg Class Size
18 students
Popular Majors
Nursing, Business, Criminal Justice, Mass Communication
Acceptance Rate
40.5%-74%
6-Year Grad Rate
43-49%
Student-Faculty Ratio
14:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$39,196
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.8×
Median debt at graduation
$31,000
Graduation rate
43%
First-year retention
78%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
55%
Pell (lower-income) share
83%
First-generation share
35%
Endowment / student
$96,145
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$59,253
Accounting and Related Services$33,993
Psychology, General$28,960
Public Health$26,037
Biology, General$22,771
Communication and Media Studies$20,140
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
4
Per 1,000 students
3.76
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
113
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
51°F
Annual rain
67.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
47
Scholarly works
678
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
5.0%
Bottom → top quintile
20%
From bottom quintile
25%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Dillard University?
Dillard University's acceptance rate is approximately 42% (New Orleans, LA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Dillard University?
Admitted students at Dillard University typically score 968–1202 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Dillard University cost?
At Dillard University, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,094 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Dillard University?
Dillard University enrolls approximately 1,063 undergraduate students.
Where is Dillard University located?
Dillard University is located in New Orleans, LA.
Admissions
Dillard's admissions process is somewhat selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 40.5% to 74% across sources—likely reflecting fluctuations in application pools. Successful applicants typically present a minimum 2.5 GPA and ACT scores of 18-23 (or SAT scores between 970-1200). The university emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., though test scores remain a benchmark. Notably, 74% of accepted students enroll, suggesting strong YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. for this New Orleans HBCU.
Dillard offers 22 programs across its College of Arts & Sciences, with as the most popular majors. The university shines in (with concentrations in multimedia journalism and public relations) and (including a unique film program). Small classes—averaging —and a foster close mentorship. As Louisiana's oldest HBCU, Dillard roots its curriculum in social justice and African Diaspora studies.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Business Administration, Management and Operations$20,140
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
nursing, business administration, and criminal justice
Life at Dillard pulses with 80+ student organizations, from Greek life (Alpha Kappa Alpha and Omega Psi Phi have strong chapters) to niche clubs like the Jazz Ensemble. Housing options include apartment-style dorms with single to triple occupancy units. The New Orleans location means students absorb local culture—second lines, crawfish boils, and Mardi Gras—while campus traditions like the annual "Battle of the Bands" against nearby HBCUs stoke school pride. TikTok glimpses show a vibrant, tight-knit community where dorm hangouts spill into courtyard jam sessions.
Dillard's 6-year graduation rate hovers around 43-49%, slightly below the national average for private colleges but above many peer HBCUs. Notably, 45% graduate on time (4 years), outperforming the 33.3% national average. Alumni earn $26,414 one year post-graduation, rising to $46,668 after five years—competitive with national HBCU outcomes. The university has set ambitious goals to reach a 75th percentile graduation rate among private nonprofits, signaling reinvestment in student support.
After aid, the average net price is $18,551, with Dillard awarding $14 million annually in institutional aid (averaging $9,193 per student). The total cost before aid aligns with private HBCU norms, but generous scholarships—like those for Louisiana residents—make it accessible. The financial aid office actively guides families through FAFSA and institutional grant applications, with 94% of students receiving some form of aid.
Dillard merges HBCU traditions with New Orleans' cultural heartbeat—where classroom debates on social justice echo the city's activist history. Its nursing program feeds into Louisiana's healthcare hubs, while mass communication grads tap into the city's film and media boom. Unlike larger HBCUs, Dillard offers micro-community intimacy: professors host students for red beans and rice dinners, and the marching band’s brass lines soundtrack campus walks. For students craving a historically rich, artistically alive education, it’s a singular choice.
