Dillard University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It enrolls 1,063 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
55/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes30
Value12
Affordability69
Selectivity53
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 41.9%, Dillard University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
41.9%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
968 – 1202
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 22
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Dillard University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Dillard University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,094 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,094
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
70%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
79%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$23,918
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,543
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,337
Books & Supplies
$1,300
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,924
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,924
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,202
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,819
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,094
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,224
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,032
Over $110,000
$27,019
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,50025%percentile
$31,000Medianpercentile
$38,00075%percentile
$53,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,800
↓ $7,200
No Pell $19,500
↓ $11,500
Dependent students $23,380
↓ $7,620
Independent students $19,546
↓ $11,454
Female students $23,255
↓ $7,745
Male students $19,546
↓ $11,454
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $14,250, less than completers ($31,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Dillard University graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Dillard University earn a median of $39,196 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,196
Earning > $25K
64%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Declining: debt management worsening over time ↓
13.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 58% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Dillard University is home to 1,063 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,063
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 87.8%933
Other 3.9%41
International 3.0%32
Hispanic 1.1%12
White 0.7%7
Asian 0.1%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Dillard University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNew Orleans, Louisiana
Housing
Strongly residential889 beds for 1,063 students
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Dillard University offers
a varied set of programs:
20 distinct programs across
12 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dillard University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$259M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,618
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
75 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
9
12%
$82,593
Associate Professors
19
25%
$66,253
Assistant Professors
30
40%
$63,124
Instructors
14
19%
$55,972
No Rank
3
4%
$80,636
Pros & Cons of Dillard University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Dillard University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Best for:
Based on the data, Dillard University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dillard University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Dillard University.
Is Dillard University hard to get into?
Dillard University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 41.9%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Dillard University?
Dillard University has an acceptance rate of 41.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Dillard University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Dillard University scored between 968 and 1202 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Dillard University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Dillard University scored between 18 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Dillard University cost?
The average net price after aid at Dillard University is $22,094 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Dillard University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,196 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,094 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Dillard University known for?
Dillard University is best known for its programs in Biology, Criminal Justice, Public Health. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Dillard University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Dillard University are $39,196, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Dillard University accredited?
Yes. Dillard University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Dillard University?
Dillard University enrolls 1,063 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Dillard University?
Dillard University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Dillard University a public or private college?
Dillard University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Dillard University located?
Dillard University is located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What programs does Dillard University offer?
Dillard University offers 20 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Criminal Justice, Public Health.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Dillard University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dillard University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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