Southeastern Louisiana University

Founded in 1925, Southeastern Louisiana University’s story began in the abandoned wing of an old high school. Since those humble beginnings, the university has grown into a major regional provider of higher education to students throughout the state of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region of the United States, with programs in business, education, the sciences, and technology. The school has grown into a major university that offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to students, all at affordable, in-state tuition rates. This distinction, along with prestigious accreditations and top-ranked faculty, make SLU a top choice for students throughout the Deep South.

Southeastern Louisiana University Accreditation Details

As a major, state-funded provider of higher education, Southeastern Louisiana University is accredited regionally by the CHEA-recognized Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This regional accreditation is an important factor in transferring credits, being accepted to future education programs, and receiving financial aid, and it’s perhaps the single most important feature that today’s students need to look for in any institution.

In addition to regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Southeastern offers several programmatic and professional accreditations that boost the credibility and prestige of its individual academic programs. The business programs at the school are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. Engineering and technology programs have ABET accreditation, while CCNE has accredited the school’s nursing programs and NCATE has given its seal of approval to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in education. These prestigious, professional accreditations put many of Southeastern’s programs in the top 10 percent among similar, competing programs worldwide.

Southeastern Louisiana University Application Requirements

Undergraduate applicants to Southeastern Louisiana University must submit the official online application, along with the required application fee, to begin the admissions process. The school requires a few supplemental application materials in order to make an informed decision about undergraduate applicants. These materials include official ACT scores, official high school transcripts, and proof of proficiency on Louisiana standardized tests administered during high school. Out-of-state applicants are waived from this requirement. As of the 2015-2016 academic year, students must have completed at least four math classes, three foreign language classes, four English or literature classes, and meet several other academic requirements in order to be granted full admission to the university.

At the graduate level, application requirements vary by degree program. All programs require online submission of the online graduate application and the required application fee. Most programs also require submission of a personal statement, a professional resume, and at least two letters of recommendation. Some programs may require the submission of GRE or GMAT scores, as well. Because of variable requirements, prospective graduate students should make sure to check the specific application requirements of their selected program when beginning the application process.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Because Southeastern Louisiana University is publicly funded, the school offers different tuition rates based on student residency. For undergraduate students that live in Louisiana, the university estimates full-time tuition to cost $4,362 per semester with approximately $1,252 in university fees per year. Out-of-state students pay a significantly higher rate of tuition to attend Southeastern. In addition to standard yearly fees of $1,353, non-resident Southeastern students will pay approximately $16,381 per semester to attend the school on a full-time basis.

At the graduate level, resident students in a non-MBA degree program will pay $785.90 per credit, with $519.75 in fees per semester. Louisiana students enrolled in the MBA program pay a significantly higher per-credit rate of $1,029.90. Out-of-state graduate students are charged $2,080 per credit hour in both the MBA program and general graduate programs, with the same $519.90 in university fees each semester. Extra fees may apply to out-of-state graduate tuition balances, based on the specific program and its required materials.

Student Experience

One of the most popular programs at Southeastern Louisiana University is its B.S. in sport management. The program, which draws on the unique connection of Southeastern to New Orleans sports teams and other regional teams, allows students to blend a conventional business administration education with the unique skills necessary to manage a sports organization. The program, offered by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies, is unique because it’s one of the few programs nationwide that isn’t part of a business department. As a result, students are required to complete several anatomy and kinesiology classes within the sport management degree’s core curriculum. This results in sport management students taking part in several laboratory-based classes that teach them both the management side of the business and the importance of players’ health.

In order to ensure that students are able to land a career in this field after graduation, the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies assists students in arranging at least one internship during their final year of enrollment in the undergraduate program. Many students opt to intern everywhere from local branches of the YMCA to a major New Orleans athletic team or with on-campus sports facilities. The internship component of the program is paired with a strong commitment to on-campus networking opportunities, student organizations like the Sport Management Association, and membership in alumni groups after graduation. Student success stories abound throughout the Gulf Coast and on the Southeastern.edu website, where alumni praise the school’s commitment to professional experiences, informative laboratory settings, and unique classroom theory that makes management accessible to students with athletic interests.

Southeastern’s B.S. program in sport management is described as being a great fit for both aspiring administrators and aspiring graduate students. Because of the dual focus on health and business management skills, the degree lends itself to graduate study in MBA programs, graduate sport management programs, and even athletic training programs. The versatility of this degree, both in the workplace and in academia, makes it a great choice for students who are looking to maximize their future career growth as well as the options available to them immediately after graduation. For students pursuing professional employment, the career advising office at the school offers resume reviews, mock interviews, and an exclusive job board for Southeastern students and alumni. This service, free to current students and recent graduates, is one of the key ways that Southeastern Louisiana University takes care of students across all of its degree programs.