Undergraduate Admission

www.lsus.edu/undergraduate-admissions
Office of Admissions and Records
Administration Building, room 168
318/797.5061 Email: admissions@lsus.edu

LSUS encourages applications from all interested individuals and tries to assure a successful college experience for each student. In order to take full advantage of the University environment, however, the student should meet the standards for regular admission to pursue credit in degree programs outlined in this section.

General Information

LSUS operates on a two-semester academic calendar, complemented by a multi-session summer term. Additionally, the University offers numerous courses in an accelerated format, primarily delivered 100% online during seven-week terms throughout the year. 

Qualified applicants may register at the start of any semester or accelerated session, as applicable. However, all admission documentation must be submitted to the Office of Admissions well in advance of enrollment deadlines. For accelerated online sessions, materials must be received by the prescribed deadline to ensure timely registration.

Applicant Categories 

The following section describes the different categories of applicants for undergraduate admission at LSUS. Applicants should identify the category that best describes their academic background and follow the corresponding instructions under Basic Application Procedures to ensure a smooth application process. 

Are you: 

• A first-time first-year student is a student who has never attended any college or other postsecondary institution after completing high school. 
  This includes students who enroll in the fall term after attending college for the first time during the prior summer, as well as those entering with advanced standing (e.g., college credit earned through dual enrollment or other programs prior to high school graduation). 
  → See The Freshman Applicant. 

• A transfer student is a student who is enrolling at an institution for the first time but has previously attended another postsecondary institution as a first-time first-year student after graduating high school. 
  → See The Transfer Student Applicant 

• A visiting student is a student who is currently enrolled at an accredited college or university and intends to return to that same institution in the following regular semester or summer session. 
  → See The Visiting Student Applicant. 

• An individual who wishes to take a course for personal interest without earning academic credit? 
  → See The Audit Only Applicant. 

• A non-degree seeking individual who is 25 years of age or older and has not been enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution for at least three (3) years. 
  → See The Educational Enrichment Program.

If none of these categories apply to your situation, please contact the Office of Admissions: 
Call 318-797-5061 
Email: admissions@lsus.edu 

Basic Application Procedures

Students seeking admission or readmission to LSUS may complete the online application at https://apply.lsus.edu/. Applications should be submitted to the Office of Admissions at least 30 days prior to the first day of the semester for which admission is requested. 

A non-refundable application fee is required for first-time students. All documents submitted to the Office of Admissions become part of the student’s official record and will neither be returned to the student nor released to third parties. The University reserves the right to deny admission, readmission, or continued enrollment to individuals whose behavior is deemed disruptive, dangerous, or abusive. 

Immunization Requirements:

Students born after 1956 must provide proof of immunization or immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus/diphtheria prior to registration. Additionally, all first-time freshmen are required to submit proof of meningitis immunization. This policy applies to all students entering LSUS for the first time, as well as those returning after an absence of one semester or more. A copy of the Immunization Policy is included with the admissions materials. 

Students may request an exemption from immunization requirements for medical or personal reasons. However, in the event of an outbreak of communicable diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, or meningitis, the University may require exempt students to leave campus and refrain from attending classes until the outbreak subsides or until adequate immunization documentation is provided to the Office of Admissions. 

Selective Service Registration:

In compliance with Louisiana law, male applicants between the ages of 18 and 26 must provide proof of Selective Service registration to continue enrollment beyond their first semester at LSUS. 

The Freshman Applicant

Transcript Policy 

• Applicants who graduated from a Louisiana high school within the past three (3) years do not need to submit a high school transcript initially. The Office of Admissions will attempt to retrieve the transcript directly from the Louisiana Board of Regents Student Transcript System (STS).  
• If the transcript is available in STS, no further action is required. Applicants will be notified if their transcript cannot be obtained through STS, in which case it will be the student’s responsibility to request that their high school send an official transcript directly to LSUS 
• Applicants who have earned college credit while in high school-through Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP, or DANTES-must submit official college transcripts or official test score reports from the issuing institution or testing agency. 

Test Score Policy 

• Applicants with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale are not required to submit standardized placement test scores (ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer) for admission purposes. 
• However, placement test scores may be required for placement purposes for admitted students with a GPA below 3.0 on a 4.0 scale who do not meet the Louisiana Board of Regents Core Course requirements. 
• Detailed information and registration forms for the ACT and SAT may be obtained from high school counselors, the American College Testing Program (P.O. Box 451, Iowa City, IA 52243-0451; www.act.org), or the College Board (45 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023; www.collegeboard.org). Information regarding the ACCUPLACER Next Generation test is available through the LSUS Testing Center via the Office of Continuing Education at 318-798-4177. 
• *ACT or SAT scores are required to be considered for a LSUS Scholarship 

The Transfer Applicant

• Applicants who have attended any college or university must request that each institution send an official transcript directly to the LSUS Office of Admissions, regardless of whether academic credit was earned. 
• Applicants who have earned fewer than 18 non-developmental semester hours of college credit must also meet the freshman admission requirements. 
• Failure to disclose enrollment at any previous institution-regardless of whether credit was earned-may result in dismissal from the University. 
• Applicants currently enrolled at another college or university at the time of application must request that the institution submit a current official transcript at the time of application and a final official transcript upon completion of the term. If admission requirements are met but all transcripts have not yet been received, the applicant will be considered for Conditional Admission. Full admission will be granted once all required transcripts are received and evaluated. All official, complete transcripts must be received by the LSUS Office of Admissions no later than the end of the applicant’s first semester of enrollment. 

The Alternate Certification Applicant

• Should request that each college or university attended mail an official transcript (regardless of whether credit was earned) directly to the Office of Admissions. The final transcript showing the bachelor’s degree earned with a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or better must be submitted. Any student, who fails to acknowledge attendance at each college or university, whether or not credit was earned, is subject to dismissal from the University. A student who is currently enrolled at another university when they apply for admission should request that the institution submit a current official transcript now and then submit a final official transcript at the conclusion of the semester. Until the final official transcript is received and evaluated, the applicant is considered to be conditionally admitted. Full admission will not be granted until the final transcript has been received and evaluated. The University may grant conditional admission until the end of a fall or spring semester, or summer session.

The Visiting Student

• A visiting student must submit an official transcript from their home institution. Enrollment under this classification is limited to one regular semester or one summer session and does not imply or guarantee continued admission to LSUS. 
• Visiting students are responsible for selecting appropriate coursework and should consult with their home institution to ensure transferability of credits. 
• Any visiting student who wishes to continue enrollment at LSUS beyond one term must formally apply for admission as a non-visiting (degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking) student. 

The Audit Only Student

• Applicants intending to enroll as audit-only students must clearly indicate this intention on the application for admission by choosing the “non-degree” option on either the Undergraduate or Graduate application and selecting “Audit Only” as their major. No official academic records are required for admission under this status. 
• Audit-only students are required to pay the same tuition and fees as regularly admitted students. (See also Auditor under University Regulations.) 
• Students admitted as auditors who later wish to enroll for academic credit must follow all standard admission procedures applicable to their intended student classification. 

Educational Enrichment Program

Students applying to the Educational Enrichment Program (EEP) must clearly indicate their intention to enroll in the EEP on the application by selecting the Undergraduate application and choosing “non-degree seeking” as their Area of Study and then selecting “Educational Enrichment” as their major. Admission to this non-degree program does not require submission of prior academic records, provided the student is at least 25 years of age and has been out of high school, college, or university for a minimum of three years. 

(See also the Educational Enrichment Program for additional details.) 

Additional Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents 

Evaluation of Foreign Credentials 

All foreign academic credentials must be submitted in English to the Office of Admissions and Records. Evaluation must be conducted by a member organization of one of the following national associations: 

• National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) 

• Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) 

A course-by-course evaluation is required. For additional details regarding the evaluation process and applicable fees, please visit the website of the evaluation service provider. 

English Proficiency 

Non-U.S. citizen applicants may be exempt from English proficiency requirements if any of the following conditions are met: 

• Applicant is a Permanent Resident of the U.S. 

• The applicant earned a U.S. high school diploma or obtained a degree from an accredited U.S. tertiary/higher education institution. 

• The applicant has completed at least 30 credit hours of university-level coursework at a regionally accredited U.S. higher education institution, with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, including: 

• One non-remedial Mathematics course, and 

• One non-remedial English course, or 

• Two consecutive non-remedial English courses. 

• The applicant is a national of or has completed secondary or tertiary education in a country where English is the official and primary language of instruction. 
  (Note: Some departments or degree programs may still require English proficiency testing or an additional interview.) 

Eligible countries include: 
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 

Freshman Admission

All applicants must meet the University’s admission standards designed to support academic success. To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the following to the Office of Admissions: 

• A completed application 

• The non-refundable application fee 

• Immunization records 

• Official test scores (if applicable) 

• An official high school transcript 

For students who graduated from a Louisiana high school within the past three years, the LSUS Office of Admissions will automatically request the final high school transcript through the Board of Regents and the Louisiana Department of Education’s Student Transcript System. 

LSUS follows a selective admissions policy for first-time freshmen, which varies based on the applicant’s age: 

• Applicants under 25 years of age (typically recent high school graduates) must meet more stringent admission requirements. 

• Applicants 25 years of age or older are subject to minimal admission requirements. 

First Time Freshmen - Under Age 25

Admission for applicants under the age of 25 is based on the following factors: 

• Completion of High School curriculum (See choices in next section) 

• Unweighted cumulative high school GPA 

• ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer test scores 

• Eligibility for college-level Math and English courses 

Admissions Requirements for All First-Time, First-Year Applicants - Under Age 25

• Completion of a High School Curriculum, AND 

• Additional Requirements by Institution Type 

Completion of a High School Curriculum: Meet requirements of one of the following five options: 

 *TOPS Opportunity Scholarship Core HS Curriculum 

First Time Freshmen - Age 25 Years and Older

An Undergraduate applicant who is 25 years of age or older and where First Time Freshman Admissions requirements are being used in respect to an Admission decision must meet the following requirements.   

Visiting First Time Freshmen - Summer only

The student must submit a high school transcript, standardized test scores (ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER Next Generation), and an acceptance letter or letter of intent from the college or university they plan to attend in the upcoming fall semester. Students admitted under these conditions assume full responsibility for their course selection and are encouraged to seek guidance from the institution where they intend to transfer credits. Additionally, students must meet all prerequisite requirements for each course in which they plan to enroll. 

Other Types of Admission

Readmission of Former Students

Former students who were not enrolled at LSUS during the preceding regular semester must apply for readmission; no application fee is required. Any student who has attended another college or university since last enrolling at LSUS must request that those institutions send official transcripts directly to the LSUS Office of Admissions and Records, regardless of whether credit was earned. Failure to submit these transcripts by the end of the semester or session will result in a hold on future registration. 

To be eligible for readmission, the student must be in good academic standing 

Educational Enrichment Program

The Educational Enrichment Program (EEP) admits students without requiring records of their previous academic work, provided that the student is at least 25 years of age and at least three years have lapsed since they were enrolled in a high school, college, or university. 

A student in this non-degree program may register for a maximum of nine hours of credit during a fall or spring semester, six during a summer session, and may earn a maximum of 24 hours of credit. The student who wishes to continue after earning credit for 24 hours must submit complete academic records before a decision is made regarding admission to a degree program. 

The student enrolled in the EEP is subject to university regulations as set forth in this catalog. 

A student in the EEP is not enrolled in a degree program and thus is not eligible for veteran’s benefits or other forms of financial aid. 

Conditional Admission

With the approval of the Office of Admissions and Records, an applicant who does not have complete admission documents on file at the time of admission may be granted conditional admission pending receipt of complete and satisfactory records. 

Once all required records are received, the student’s admissibility will be determined. The registration of any student who does not meet admission requirements will be canceled. 

A conditionally admitted student whose required records are not received within the first semester will be unable to register for future semesters. 

Students without complete records are not eligible for financial aid or veteran’s benefits. No official records of a student’s enrollment at LSUS will be released until all required admission records are received. 

Admission of Non-U.S. Citizens

A non-US Citizen may apply for admission as a freshman or a transfer student. 

Freshman international students must have completed a recognized secondary program comparable to U.S. high school graduation and have academic records comparable to those required to meet the Admission from Louisiana Secondary Schools requirements. Admission decisions for freshman international students must be made in accordance with recommendations in nationally recognized publications. Students should have at least completed a program of study that would recommend them for admission to a university in their native country. 

Students must be eligible for college-level mathematics. English-speaking students must also be eligible for college-level English enrollment. 

Non - US Citizen applicants transferring from institutions in or outside the United States must meet Admission by Transfer requirements. 

All foreign credentials must be submitted in English to the Office of Admissions and using a member organization of one of the following two national associations of credential evaluation services: 

• National Association of Credential Evaluators (NACES) (www.naces.org) 

• Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) (www.aice-eval.org) 

A course-by-course evaluation is required. Additional information concerning the evaluation process and the associated fees can be obtained online from the evaluation service provider’s website. 

English Language Proficiency 
Undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate college-level English proficiency before admission. 

Students can satisfy the LSUS English language requirement by achieving one of the following minimum scores: 

• TOEFL: 500+ on PBT or 61+ on iBT 

• IELTS: 6.0+ overall, with at least 5.5 in each component 

• PTE Academic: 47+ overall 

• Duolingo English Test: 105+ overall 

English Proficiency Exemptions 
Some applicants may be exempt from English proficiency requirements if they meet one or more of the following conditions: 

• Earned a U.S. high school diploma or any degree from an accredited U.S. tertiary/higher education institution. 

• Have a 2.5 overall GPA with 30 credit hours of university-level coursework at a regionally accredited U.S. higher education institution, including one non-remedial course each in mathematics and English, or two consecutive non-remedial English courses. 

• Are a national of, or have completed secondary or tertiary education in, a country where English is the official primary language of instruction. (Some departments or degree programs may still require English proficiency tests or an additional interview.) 

Countries meeting this exemption include: 
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe. 

Other Requirements for Admission: F-1 International Applicants 
Applicants seeking an initial F-1 visa from LSUS or transferring an existing F-1 visa to LSUS must submit the following documentation at least 90 days before the start of the semester for which admission is sought: 

• The LSUS Online Application 

• Official course-by-course evaluation of international transcripts from an approved evaluation company 

• Placement scores and/or English proficiency scores, if required 

• Proof of availability of sufficient funds to cover the cost of attendance at LSUS 

Health Insurance Requirement 
Upon arrival at LSUS and before registering for courses, students must provide verification of an adequate health insurance plan covering hospital, medical, surgical, and major medical expenses, as well as repatriation expense protection or its equivalent. 

Early College Opportunities for High School Students 

LSUS offers two Early College Opportunities for high school students: Dual Enrollment (DE) and the Academic Excellence Program (AEP). 

Dual Enrollment 
Dual Enrollment offers qualified high school students at our partner high schools, in Louisiana, the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit by taking courses taught by their high school instructors. 

Academic Excellence Program (AEP) 
The AEP offers academically superior high school students the opportunity to earn college credit by taking courses taught by an LSUS professor, either on campus or online.  

Students must be currently enrolled in a public, private, parochial, or home school in Louisiana. 

Eligibility for All Early College Opportunities 

Students must: 

• Have completed at least their freshman year of high school. 

• Maintain a minimum high school GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale. 

• Meet placement requirements as outlined in Louisiana Board of Regents policy AA 2.18. 

• Be eligible to enroll in a postsecondary institution. 

• For continued enrollment in subsequent semesters/terms, must have successfully completed prior dual credit courses with a grade of A, B, C, or P and maintain a minimum college GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. 

• Reapply each academic year. 

Tuition for Early College Students 

Tuition for Early College courses is $50 per credit hour. A typical course is 3 credit hours and will be billed at $150.  

Financial Aid does not apply to Early College students/courses. 

Early College Students are encouraged to speak with their high school about opportunities for funding from the high school. * LSUS must be informed of high school/state funding before the course begins.  

Correspondence or Independent Study

A student wishing to take correspondence courses or independent study should contact the LSUS Office of the Division of Continuing Education 318 798.4177 continuing.education@lsus.edu, or the Office of Independent Study: E 106 Pleasant Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, or by phone: 800/234.5046. 

Louisiana Residence Status

The residence status of an applicant or student is determined by the Office of Admissions in accordance with LSU PM 31 regulations and is based upon evidence provided in the completed application for admission and additional required documents. 

Resident students are those who have had their domicile in the state of Louisiana continuously for at least 365 days immediately preceding the first day of classes of the semester for which residence classification is sought. A domicile is the true, fixed, and permanent home at which the individual remains when not called elsewhere for special or temporary purposes, and the place to which the individual returns after an absence. Factors considered in establishing residence classification include the residence of a dependent’s parents; tax returns and other financial information, particularly when emancipation is claimed; former domicile in Louisiana; location of the source of the student’s income; and the state in which the student is registered to vote. 

Persons who are transferred to the state by their employer or regularly do business in Louisiana may be eligible for a waiver of non-resident fees and should contact the Office of Admissions for further information. Students who are members of the armed forces, stationed in Louisiana, and their dependents must submit a Military Residency Form and supporting documents. The form is available online or in the Office of Admissions. 

An international student holding a student visa is classified as a nonresident. Residence status is not determined for students who are only auditing classes. Individuals who come to the Shreveport area from out-of-state just to attend the University will be considered nonresidents until they demonstrate that their previous domicile has been abandoned and a Louisiana domicile has been established. 

LSUS has a limited number of non-resident tuition exemptions available for students from out-of-state who meet certain criteria. Students may apply for these exemptions by contacting the Office of Admissions. The Office of Admissions will award the exemptions on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For questions concerning Change of Residency or to request an Out of State Fee waiver, please contact the LSUS Office of Admissions 318-797-5061 or admissions@lsus.edu.