Admit rate has ranged 24%–97% 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.
Grambling State University, a public HBCU in rural Louisiana, punches above its weight as a top producer of Black graduates—especially in computer science—with a raucous homecoming culture and diehard school spirit. While graduation rates lag national averages, its affordable net price and tight-knit community make it a launchpad for first-generation students, particularly those drawn to its standout nursing, criminal justice, and engineering tech programs.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Class rank
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
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
4,164
In-state tuition
$7,683
Out-of-state tuition
$16,706
Type
Public HBCU
Location
Grambling, LA
Top Majors
Nursing, Computer Science, Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate
23.7%-45%
Graduation Rate
29-32%
Student-Faculty Ratio
25:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$41,109
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.1×
Median debt at graduation
$36,500
Graduation rate
36%
First-year retention
66%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
41%
Pell (lower-income) share
89%
First-generation share
39%
Endowment / student
$4,310
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$68,219
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$35,416
Accounting and Related Services$33,993
Business Administration, Management and Operations$30,771
Psychology, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
6
Per 1,000 students
1.44
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
94
Summer high
93°F
Winter low
42°F
Annual rain
52"
Annual snow
2.2"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
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
53
Scholarly works
1,028
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
4.6%
Bottom → top quintile
13%
From bottom quintile
34%
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 Grambling State University?
Grambling State University's acceptance rate is approximately 45% (Grambling, LA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Grambling State University?
Admitted students at Grambling State University typically score 920–1080 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Grambling State University cost?
At Grambling State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $19,809 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Grambling State University?
Grambling State University enrolls approximately 4,164 undergraduate students.
Where is Grambling State University located?
Grambling State University is located in Grambling, LA.
Admissions
Grambling State maintains a moderately selective admissions process, 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 23.7% (per PrepScholar) to 45% (US News)—likely reflecting differences in applicant pools across years. The university reported 12,976 applications for a recent cycle, admitting 5,821 and enrolling 4,313. Minimum requirements include a 2.0 high school GPA and either an ACT composite of 20 or a combined SAT score of 940 (pre-2016 SAT) for first-time freshmen. Notably, the Common Data Set (CDS)A standardized report most colleges publish each year with admissions, test-score, and financial-aid figures, making schools easier to compare. shows test scores aren't mandatory for all applicants, suggesting some flexibility in evaluations.
With a 25:1 student-faculty ratio, Grambling offers 39 majors across colleges including Arts & Sciences, Business, and Professional Studies. It's Louisiana's top producer of computer information science graduates and nationally recognized for its nursing, criminal justice, and engineering technology programs. The Princeton Review highlights its strength in graduating Black students, particularly in STEM fields. Popular majors also include mass communication, social work, and kinesiology, with many programs emphasizing hands-on learning through the university's 'small college' approach within a larger institution.
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.
$27,642
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$27,048
Criminal Justice and Corrections$26,187
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.
Campus life revolves around Grambling's HBCU traditions, with over 4,200 undergraduates participating in 100+ organizations—from Greek life to the renowned World Famed Tiger Marching Band. The Division of Student Affairs orchestrates a packed calendar of cultural events, with homecoming drawing particular fervor. Housing and meals average $10,990 annually, though many students commute. Key hubs include the library, student union, and campus security office, with activities ranging from academic clubs (like the Graduate Student Association) to social organizations that leverage the university's tight-knit community.
Graduation rates remain a challenge, with just 29-32% of students completing degrees within six years (placing Grambling in the bottom 10% nationally per Research.com). Male students graduate at even lower rates (24%). Early-career alumni earn approximately $26,000 annually—$11,000 below national averages for similar programs. However, the university tracks retention metrics closely, with specific goals for year-to-year persistence rates, suggesting institutional focus on improving these outcomes.
Grambling's Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $15,760 after aid, with tuition bundled at $24 per credit hour. The university offers a net price calculator to estimate costs, with financial aid disbursed through grants, loans, and scholarships. In-state students benefit from Louisiana's tuition structure, though exact annual costs aren't specified in public reports beyond the per-credit model and average net price figures.
Grambling State carves its niche as an HBCU powerhouse with three irreplicable assets: its cult-like school spirit (epitomized by legendary football games and band performances), its role as Louisiana's top computer science producer among Black graduates, and its accessibility for First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. students through affordable Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost.. While graduation rates lag, its tight-knit community and focus on practical majors like nursing and criminal justice create pipelines to stable careers—proving that metrics don't capture the full value of its cultural LegacyAn applicant whose parent (or sometimes other close relative) attended the college. Some schools give a small edge to legacy applicants..
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