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Louisiana State University

The student guide to Baton Rouge, Louisiana: where to eat, live and get help, what a year really costs, and the free stuff most students miss.

LSU at a glance

30,594
undergrads
73%
of applicants admitted
85%
come back for year 2
71%
graduate
21 : 1
students per teacher
$64,338
typical pay 10 years in

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard.

What a year really costs

After grants and scholarships, by family income. Average: $19,286.

Under $30k $14,670
$30k–$48k $15,598
$48k–$75k $18,807
$75k–$110k $23,421
Over $110k $27,239
Tuition, in state
$12,551
Tuition, out of state
$29,228
Typical debt at graduation
$19,500
32% of students get a Pell Grant

Free stuff most students miss

Career

Career Closet (free professional clothing)

FREE professional clothing for any currently enrolled LSU student - blazers, dresses, suits and more - and it is in-house at the Career Center rather…

Getting around

Tiger Trails Transit

Free campus bus system with multiple routes covering on-campus and off-campus areas including night and Sunday service.

Health & safety

The Lighthouse Program

Free and confidential support for student survivors of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking and harassment - and explicitly regardless of…

Student life

LSU Food Pantry

LSU Student Affairs runs a campus food pantry for students who need food support - the kind of service that is free, quiet and almost never…

Eat

Dining halls, quick bites and coffee on campus.

19 places
459 Commons
459 Commons
Dining hall

Renovated all-you-care-to-eat dining hall with stations inspired by Louisiana flavors, allergen-friendly options, and student-driven menu design.

459 S Stadium Dr
The 5 Dining Hall
The 5 Dining Hall
Dining hall

All-you-care-to-eat dining hall with diverse food stations catering to a wide range of tastes and dietary needs.

5 S Stadium Dr
Tiger Lair
Tiger Lair
Food court

Food court in the LSU Student Union with multiple quick-service restaurants and grab-and-go options.

310 LSU Student Union
Tiger Traditions
Tiger Traditions
Specialty dining

Louisiana-style restaurant on the first floor of the Student Union serving classic Southern and Cajun flavors.

310 LSU Student Union
The Lounge at Union Square
The Lounge at Union Square
Specialty dining

Sit-down restaurant and bar at the heart of campus serving craft cocktails, mocktails, and dining fare to students, faculty, and the public.

3434 S Stadium Dr
Starbucks (Barnes & Noble at LSU)
Starbucks (Barnes & Noble at LSU)
Cafe

Full-service Starbucks inside the Barnes & Noble bookstore, a popular study spot near Highland Hall.

375 Highland Rd

Where to live

Residence halls, apartments and help finding a place.

5 places

Get around

Shuttles, parking and accessible rides.

6 ways

Majors that pay most at LSU

Typical pay 4 years after graduating. Top 6 of 48 bachelor's majors with published pay.

Chemical Engineering $114,226
Computer Engineering $106,897
Petroleum Engineering $103,421
Mechanical Engineering $99,975
Electrical Engineering $97,208
Finance $95,302

Source: College Scorecard, field-of-study data.

Your LSU checklist

5 things worth doing early

When you need help

5 things LSU freshmen figure out too late

Watch the video
  1. 1 Your final might not cover everything

    "A final examination is defined as the last in a series of major tests specified in the course syllabus. It need not be comprehensive." "Final examinations are required in all courses", but what yours covers is up to the professor. Read each syllabus to find out.

  2. 2 Need a C? A C-minus still counts

    "References to specific letter grades in university regulations and requirements refer to the full letter grade range. For example, if a grade of C is required, a student must achieve a final grade in the C range (i.e. C+, C, or C-) or better." That is the university rule. Check whether your program sets its own floor.

  3. 3 A 4.0 on 12 hours makes no list

    Dean's List: "Undergraduate students completing at least 12 college-level hours at LSU in the semester, with a semester average of at least 3.50, but less than a 4.00, and no "I" grades for the semester are included in the list." President's Honor Roll: "Undergraduate students completing at least 15 college-level hours at LSU in the semester, with a semester GPA of 4.00 and no "I" grades for the semester, are included on the roll." A 4.00 on 12 to 14 hours fits neither.

  4. 4 Retook a class? For honors, both grades count

    For a repeated course, "only the last grade earned in the repeated course will be used in GPA calculations." But for Latin honors, "These GPAs will be inclusive of all grades, including those previously excluded through the Grade Exclusion Policy." A retake fixes your regular GPA, not your honors GPA.

  5. 5 Record the lecture — Gus makes the notes, flashcards and quiz

    Gus is an AI college companion built around your actual classes. Record a lecture and it writes the notes, pulls out the key topics, builds a flashcard deck, and makes a practice quiz from what was actually said. The flashcards come back on a spaced-review schedule, so the thing you missed shows up again right before you would have forgotten it. It is free to try.

One more thing

You get 10 withdrawals for your whole LSU career

"Students are allowed a maximum of 10 course withdrawals during their academic career." Going past that needs your dean's authorization.

LSU General Catalog — academic regulations

After graduation, grades are frozen

"Once a student has graduated and their degree has been conferred, no grade corrections may be processed for any course taken prior to the degree conferral." Fix a wrong grade before you finish.

LSU General Catalog — academic regulations

Gus is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Louisiana State University. Tips checked against LSU's own pages in October 2026. Campus info last updated October 2026. Stats from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Something out of date? hello@meetgus.app · All campus guides