Tulane University Admissions Guide

Overview

Tulane University's first-year admissions process is evaluated separately from its transfer process, with its own applicant pool, review committee, and timeline. Most highly selective schools admit first-year applicants at a meaningfully different rate than transfers, so the numbers above should not be assumed to mirror the transfer figures below.

Applicants generally apply through Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision depending on the school's specific offerings, and should weigh the tradeoffs of each round carefully, since binding Early Decision plans and non-binding Early Action or Restrictive Early Action plans have different implications for financial aid and other applications.

What Tulane Looks For

• A rigorous high school course load, including the most advanced classes available (AP, IB, honors, or dual enrollment)
• Strong, consistent grades throughout high school, particularly in junior and senior year
• Meaningful extracurricular involvement, leadership, or personal responsibilities that show depth rather than a long list of shallow activities
• Thoughtful, authentic essays that reveal genuine voice and self-reflection
• Strong letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors who know the applicant well

Requirements & Deadlines

• Common Application, Coalition Application, or the school's own first-year application, submitted by the relevant deadline above
• Official high school transcript and school profile
• Letters of recommendation from a counselor and one or more teachers
• Standardized testing policy varies by school and by year — confirm current SAT/ACT requirements before applying
• Decisions released according to the applicant's chosen round (Early Decision/Action vs. Regular Decision)

First-year acceptance rates and deadlines shift from cycle to cycle and can differ meaningfully from the transfer figures below. Confirm current numbers, deadlines, and testing policy on Tulane University's official admissions website before applying.

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Overview

Tulane's transfer acceptance rate has swung dramatically in recent years — from as low as 18% to over 60% in the most recent Common Data Set, which reported 510 of 849 transfer applicants admitted for a 60.1% rate.

Tulane offers both a priority and regular fall deadline, plus a separate spring deadline. The university welcomes more than 150 transfer students most years and strongly encourages applying by the priority deadline for faster review.

What Tulane Looks For

• At least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, with coursework in English Composition, higher-level mathematics, and ideally a foreign language
• Attendance at a regionally accredited institution and good standing at the most recent school
• An optional-but-recommended 250-word essay on reasons for transferring to Tulane
• A record of engagement outside the classroom that speaks to fit with Tulane's civic-minded campus culture
• For applicants without an SAT/ACT score, additional context supporting academic readiness

Requirements & Deadlines

• Common Application, with a February 1 priority deadline or April 15 regular deadline for fall entry, and October 15 for spring entry
• Official high school and college transcripts
• A counselor recommendation (teacher recommendations optional but welcomed)
• Test-optional; SAT or ACT may be submitted in place of TOEFL/IELTS for international applicants
• Decisions released by March 15 for priority applicants, or by June 15 on a rolling basis for regular applicants

Tulane's transfer acceptance rate has fluctuated significantly across recent cycles. Applicants should confirm current figures on Tulane's official admissions site before applying.