Louisiana State University has increasingly become a national draw, with nearly 40% of its freshmen now hailing from beyond state lines. According to this article from The Advocate, this growing trend has not only reshaped the university’s student demographics, but also sparked both enthusiasm and concern from various corners of the state.
During a recent campus tour, LSU admissions counselor Danielle Hawkins welcomed a group of middle and high school students visiting from Tampa, Florida. When she asked how many had attended a Mardi Gras parade, only a few hands went up—an indication of how unfamiliar some of these prospective students were with Louisiana culture. Hawkins embraced the moment with a warm laugh, highlighting just how far-reaching LSU’s recruiting efforts have become.
Over the past decade, the number of out-of-state undergraduates at LSU has nearly tripled. According to fall 2024 enrollment data, the university now serves over 34,000 undergraduates, with more than 12,000 of those students coming from other states. Meanwhile, the number of Louisiana-based undergrads has increased by only 2%, totaling around 20,300.
This shift hasn’t happened by chance. LSU has actively expanded its recruitment strategies to attract students from across the U.S.—especially from populous states like Texas, Florida, and Georgia, as well as from more distant places like New York, Illinois, and California. University officials say this effort is designed to boost the academic caliber of the student body, strengthen LSU’s national reputation, and increase revenue, since out-of-state students pay higher tuition.
President William Tate IV, who has led Louisiana State University since 2021, emphasized in a previous interview that the goal is to bring in top-tier students from both inside and outside Louisiana. His message to the admissions team was clear: excellence knows no borders.
LSU’s strategy is not unique. Many public universities, especially those in the South, have long turned to out-of-state students to offset budget constraints and declining in-state enrollment. The University of Alabama and the University of Mississippi, for example, each enroll freshmen classes where more than 60% come from other states. Alabama even has recruiters embedded in Louisiana, highlighting the competitive nature of student recruitment in the region.
Still, LSU’s rapid rise in out-of-state enrollment has drawn scrutiny from Louisiana lawmakers. Some worry the university’s resources are being diverted away from local students. State Representative Kim Carver raised a pointed concern: if many out-of-state students leave Louisiana after graduating, is the state truly benefiting from its investment in their education?
From an administrative perspective, however, the strategy appears to be working. Danny Barrow, Louisiana State University’s vice president of enrollment and student success, noted that only 17% of LSU’s Baton Rouge freshmen were from other states when he joined the university in 2017. That figure has now more than doubled to 40%. LSU uses data to guide its outreach, focusing recruitment in states with large numbers of high school graduates.
In addition to academic offerings, LSU’s appeal lies in its culture—football games, active Greek life, and a quintessential southern campus experience. Amenities like a recreation center featuring a climbing wall and a “leisure river” shaped like the university’s initials help sweeten the deal. The cost is also competitive. LSU’s out-of-state tuition and fees, which hover around $29,000 annually, are lower than many other flagship institutions.
Yet for all its success recruiting beyond Louisiana, LSU is facing pressure to ensure it doesn’t neglect its core mission: serving the state’s students. Lawmakers have raised concerns about inconsistent or delayed scholarship communications and the perception that other universities are more aggressive and transparent in their aid offerings. High-achieving Louisiana students, like Tobey Mitchell of Jefferson Parish, have sometimes found more generous support from out-of-state schools, even after being accepted to LSU’s honors program.
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