I am going to show you what official United States government sources report. I am not going to tell you whether this university is “good” or “bad” for your child. That decision is not mine. But I can help you understand the landscape before your child has to decide, and before you have to sign anything.
Who Grambling State University Is
Grambling State University is in the town of Grambling, Louisiana, in Lincoln Parish. It is not a large city, nor is it near one. If your family does not live in that area, your child would probably move there to attend, and that means budgeting for transportation and housing separately from tuition.
It is a public four-year university, and the federal system classifies it as a doctoral-level institution—the highest level it reports offering—although most of the degrees it awards are bachelor’s degrees. Having graduate programs does not guarantee that the specific program your child is seeking exists or that the undergraduate and graduate programs in that field are connected. That must be confirmed program by program.
One point about its identity is worth stating clearly: Grambling State University is designated a Historically Black College or University, an HBCU. In the most recent federal file, only 76 of the 3,012 institutions in this census have that designation. It is a university founded with a specific mission and a distinct history. But that label does not tell you whom it admits today or how your child will fare there. Do not read it as a verdict on quality, either for or against the university. What you can do is ask about things with specific names: what student center exists, which scholarship applies, and who answers the phone in April.
The Carnegie Classification, which organizes the nation’s universities by what they do, describes it as highly residential: at least half of its undergraduate students lived in institution-provided housing. That does not mean living there is mandatory or free. Room and board are almost never included in the first number you see in a brochure. Ask for those costs separately.
The Size of the Community and Who Makes It Up
In the most recent fall, Grambling State University had a total enrollment of 5,114: undergraduate enrollment was 4,279 and graduate enrollment was 835. It is neither a small school nor a huge one. By size, it falls right in the middle of its peers—other selective-admission public four-year institutions.
There are more women than men: out of every 100 students, 65 are women. Students ages 25 through 64 are a minority, representing only 12 out of every 100, so this is mostly a community of traditional students who have recently finished high school.
Now, here is a number I want you to look at directly because it matters to many families who read my work: only 2 out of every 100 undergraduate students identified as Hispanic or Latino. Compared with the other 519 selective public four-year institutions reporting this figure, it is among the lowest in the group—nine out of ten of those schools report a higher share.
That does not remove it from your list if your child is Latino. But if your child will be among the few, it is worth asking before deciding: Is there a Latino student group? Is there anyone in the office who speaks Spanish? Talk with a student who is already there. The number covers the entire school; the experience in a specific academic program may look very different.
How the Academic Year Is Structured
The academic calendar is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The institution accepts credit for AP exams and military training, although it did not indicate that it accepts credit for life experience. It also enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is a practical warning: saying that the university accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam or score. We do not know what score it requires or whether those credits apply to your child’s exact program. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before including those savings in your budget.
As for academic offerings: in the most recently reported year, the university awarded 659 bachelor’s degrees across 19 fields of study. No single field accounts for most of the total—not even the largest, homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services, reaches 17 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. The offerings are broad, with no single dominant field. Compared with the other 514 selective public institutions, it falls within the quarter awarding the fewest total degrees per year.
The student-to-instructional-staff ratio is 25 to 1—high, and in the top quarter among its peers. That number does not tell you the size of a specific class; it is an institutional average. If class size matters to you, ask about it directly for your child’s program.
Structured Academic Opportunities
The university reports formal pathways related to teacher education: preparation for teacher certification below the undergraduate level, the ability to complete preparation there in certain teaching specialties, and state approval of its initial teacher-certification program. If your child’s field points toward teaching, this is a concrete starting point for further questions.
Getting In: Admissions and the Path to the First Day
Here is something that surprises many families: Grambling State University does not have open admissions. It reviews specific items before saying yes. Of the nine considerations the federal system asks about, it marks five as required: the high school record, grade point average, class rank, completion of the required college-preparatory coursework, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom that requirement applies. Beyond those, only one additional factor is considered if submitted: whether a family member attended the university. That is something your child cannot change—if it does not apply, do not spend energy on it. Spend that energy on what is within your child’s control.
The undergraduate application fee is $20.
Now for the numbers showing how selective it is in practice. In the most recent cycle, the applicant pool totaled 24,521, and admission offers went to 5,806. That is 24 out of every 100 applicants. Compared with its 519 selective public peers, it is among those that admit the fewest applicants—nine out of ten institutions in that group admit a higher percentage of applicants. This figure tells you how many admission offers were made. It says nothing about your child’s worth.
And here comes a twist worth understanding clearly: the enrollment yield was only 16 out of every 100 admitted applicants. The other 84 had an offer in hand and did not accept it. Compared with its peers, that share is on the low side. Do not read it as a stain—the federal record does not explain why each person made that decision. What I can tell you is this: what others decided does not predict what your child will be offered. Wait for your own letter showing the net price before removing this school from the list or keeping it there.
The SAT and ACT are optional—they are not required to apply. Among students who enrolled, only 14 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and among those students, the middle half scored from 450 to 590 in reading and writing and from 410 to 560 in mathematics. Those ranges cover students who enrolled and submitted scores—not all applicants—and we do not know whether the scores influenced the admission decision.
Regarding transfers: in the most recent fall, Grambling State received 158 students who had previously attended another institution. We do not know how many credits it accepted—that must be asked directly of the school. And this file does not report how many Grambling students transfer to other institutions. That does not mean no one transfers; it means that field is blank.
What It Costs: The Published Price
This is where I ask for your full attention, because money is your territory.
For the 2023-24 year, the total cost of attendance—tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other estimated expenses—was $25,663 for Louisiana residents living on campus and $34,686 for out-of-state students. That difference, $9,023 per year, is enormous. Before assuming which rate applies to your family, ask the university directly what requirements it uses to determine residency and when they take effect.
Broken down, the amounts were $7,683 for tuition and fees if you are a resident ($16,706 if you are not), $10,990 for on-campus housing and food, and $1,800 for books and supplies. Compared with the other 483 schools of the same type, this cost of attendance at the resident rate falls below the midpoint of that group—it is not among the most expensive.
Remember: this is the sticker price before any aid.
What Families Actually Pay: The Net Price
At Grambling State University, the average net price was $16,447 among a population of first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and had EFC records showing family income below $30,000; the population count was 425. For the same student population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, the average was $23,591 and the population count was 98; for those with EFC family income above $110,000, the average was $24,356 and the population count was 57. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band, whose student count was 425, and the highest-income band, whose student count was 57, is $7,909. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $19,092.
Among the 519 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same time coverage, Grambling State falls within the most expensive quarter for the lowest-income families. That does not mean it should be ruled out. It means you need to request the financial-aid offer before deciding.
The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships; it also uses that rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask for it before applying.
How Families Pay: Grants, Pell, and Loans
Out of every 100 degree-seeking students, 84 received some form of grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. But reaching nearly everyone does not mean providing a large amount: among recipients, the average was only $4,120 per year.
The Pell Grant—federal aid for low-income families—reached 72 out of every 100 students. Applying for this aid here is neither unusual nor limited to a few people: most students receive it. If your family might qualify, do not hesitate to ask what documents are required and when they are due.
Now for the debt portion, and here I want to be direct with you: out of every 100 undergraduate students, 77 received a federal loan in the most recent year—a majority. Among borrowers, the average was $5,682 that year. Compared with its 519 peers, Grambling State is among the institutions with the highest shares of students who borrow.
If your child borrowed a similar amount each year for four years, the total would be around $22,728, before interest—and that calculation should be made before the first signature, not at the end. That average includes only federal loans in the student’s name; it does not include anything parents might borrow separately, credit cards, or bank debt. Financing with debt is common here. Do the full calculation, request the estimated monthly payment before accepting any offer, and remember: the fact that borrowing is common here does not determine whether your child needs it. That comes from the specific financial-aid offer.
The university also offers an installment tuition-payment plan for families that prefer to spread the cost across the year.
Campus Life, Athletics, and Support
Grambling State does have institution-owned housing, on or off campus, with a reported capacity of 2,389. Living there is not mandatory for everyone—the university reported that it does not require this of all first-time, full-time students. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by plan. The existence of housing does not guarantee that a bed is available; request the year’s rate, the deadline, and whether space is guaranteed or there is a waiting list, all in writing.
ROTC is available, with the Army branch confirmed in writing. Navy and Air Force branches are not marked as available—that does not make them impossible, but if your child is interested in another branch, you need to ask directly.
The university competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA. The report does not specify the exact sports, the division in which each competes, or whether athletic scholarships are awarded. If athletics are part of the plan, write directly to the coach and request a written response.
Distance education is available at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Out of every 100 undergraduate students, 17 took their entire course load online, while 83 took at least one in-person class. The university reports that it offers at least one complete distance-education program, although the data do not confirm the specific field—it must be confirmed directly.
The library operates with employed staff, holds physical and digital materials, and participates in interlibrary lending. There is also a reported list of support services: combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services after program completion, a point of contact for veterans and military service members, and a webpage dedicated to services for students with disabilities. The fact that these services exist and are reported does not measure their quality or how many people use them—that must be asked directly.
The Hardest Question: Do Students Stay and Graduate?
Here we reach what, for me, is the heart of a family’s decision. Because getting in is one thing. Staying and finishing is another.
From the cohort of full-time students who entered in the most recent fall, 76 out of every 100 were still enrolled or had already graduated one year later. It is a decent figure, slightly above the midpoint among its selective peers.
But the full graduation story is more difficult, and I am going to tell it to you without dressing it up. From a cohort of 906 full-time bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who entered in 2017, only 293 had graduated from Grambling State within six years. That is 32 out of every 100. Within four years—the timeframe most families budget for—the figure is only 9 out of every 100. Compared with its 518 peers, it ranks at the very bottom: nine out of ten peers report a higher six-year graduation share.
This does not mean the rest failed. The available data do not allow us to reconstruct completely what happened to them—they may have transferred, paused their studies, or remained enrolled elsewhere. A missing field does not become zero. But it does mean something very concrete for your budget: before signing anything, ask in writing how long the program that interests your child typically takes, how required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if the path extends beyond four years.
There is an even broader view at eight years, based on a different cohort that entered in 2015-16: in a cohort of 1,513 students, only 35 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school by the August 2023 reporting date. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 33 out of every 100—ten percentage points below the figure for nonrecipients. Compared with its 519 peers, it also ranks at the very bottom of that table.
I will tell you plainly: most of that cohort is not shown as having earned a credential here within eight years. The data do not explain why or what happened to them elsewhere. What I can tell you is what to do with this information: ask directly what concrete support exists to help a student finish on time—an assigned adviser, emergency aid, whether an institutional scholarship is renewed each year—and have the university answer in writing. And do not put all your eggs in one basket: keep more than one option on your child’s list.
Putting the Pieces Together
You now know one real and verified part of what Grambling State University is: a historic, public, midsize university that is highly selective by admission rate but enrolls few of those admitted, with a published price that is not among the highest relative to its peers but a net price that is among the highest for the lowest-income families, with aid and borrowing common among its students, and with graduation figures that demand direct questions before committing four years of life and family finances.
None of this tells you whether it is the right university for your child. That depends on two pieces only your family has: what your child wants to study and what your child has built so far, and what you are able and willing to pay. Combine this piece with those other two. A real plan comes from that combination—not from a single number or a single table.
If your child is just beginning to build a list, use this article as a starting point for the questions you will ask the university directly. If your child already has an admission letter in hand, compare the net price offered specifically to your child with the averages you saw here, and request the estimated monthly payment before signing any loan. And if something you read raised a question these data do not answer, that is exactly the question to ask the university, in writing.
Source note: The information in this article comes from official data reported by Grambling State University to the United States Department of Education’s IPEDS system, primarily from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, as indicated for each figure. Best College Aid does not represent Grambling State University or any United States government agency; this article is an independent informational resource intended to help families understand public data.