How to get into Dillard University
How to get into Dillard: the New Orleans HBCU with a top-producer pipeline for Black women in STEM and a friendly admit timeline
41.9%
Acceptance rate
$23,918
In-state cost
What makes Dillard University admissions different
Dillard University is a private HBCU in Gentilly, New Orleans, with ~1,100 undergrads. Dillard is best known for its Nursing program (one of the country's leading producers of Black RNs), its Pre-Med pipeline (Dillard has produced more Black physicists than nearly any other small institution in the country and is consistently among the top producers of Black women in STEM), and its Public Health and Mass Communication programs. The school is Common App, test-optional, fee-charging (modest fee with widely available waivers), and rolling-admission.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply via Common App or the Dillard online application. Earlier applicants get first crack at housing and scholarship awarding.
- 2.
Submit one teacher or counselor recommendation, your high school transcript, and (optionally) SAT or ACT scores. A 2.5+ unweighted GPA in college-prep coursework is the practical floor.
- 3.
If applying to Nursing, plan around the program-specific prerequisites (Anatomy and Physiology, college-level math). Dillard Nursing is competitive even after general admission.
- 4.
File the FAFSA (Dillard federal school code 002004). Most Dillard students are Pell-eligible and the school's net price after federal and institutional aid is competitive with state alternatives.
- 5.
If you are interested in research, mention specific affinity in the application — Dillard's Center for Racial Justice, the Brain Health Equity Research Group, and the physics research pipeline are genuinely productive for undergraduates.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Treating Dillard as a backup HBCU. The school's STEM and pre-med pipelines are nationally productive and the admit profile reflects that.
- ✕
Skipping the FAFSA. Dillard's net price is affordable only for federal aid filers.
- ✕
Underestimating the New Orleans location. The post-Katrina rebuild and the city's pace of life are real factors in student experience.
The specifics for Dillard University
Application deadlines
- RollingRollingEarlier applicants get first crack at housing and aid
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Top producer of Black women in STEM ↗
Dillard is consistently among the top producers of Black women earning physics bachelor's degrees in the United States, with a structured undergraduate-research pipeline that punches above the school's size.
Nursing program
One of the leading producers of Black RNs in the country; the BSN program at the College of Nursing has strong NCLEX pass rates.
Brain Health Equity Research Group
Faculty-led undergraduate research center focused on disparities in cognitive health outcomes — competitive for funded summer placements.
Notable scholarships at Dillard University
Louisiana TOPS
Louisiana residents who file FAFSA and meet GPA/ACT thresholds; stacks with Dillard institutional aid.
Presidential Scholarship
Awarded to top admits based on academic profile through the standard application.
What graduates actually do
Dillard, a private HBCU in New Orleans founded in 1869, has been a leading producer of Black physicians, nurses, and physicists, especially relative to its small size. The university is consistently among the top U.S. baccalaureate institutions for producing Black graduates who go on to earn physics PhDs, and the College of Nursing has supplied generations of New Orleans health-care leaders.
Notable alumni
- Garrett Morris — Original SNL cast member, actor
- Ruth Simmons — Former president of Brown University (briefly attended)
- Sybil C. Mobley — Founding dean, FAMU School of Business
- Donald M. Suggs — Publisher of the St. Louis American
Transfer pathway
Dillard admits transfer students for fall and spring and articulates with Delgado Community College in New Orleans. Transfer applicants submit college transcripts and a high school record if they have fewer than 24 college credits. Most successful transfers have a college GPA above 2.5, with higher thresholds for nursing.
Articulation partners
Delgado Community College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
Dillard admits a meaningful share of applicants with GPAs in the 2.7-3.2 band when the file shows fit. The school's faculty engagement is high (small classes, named faculty mentors) and borderline admits routinely earn research opportunities by sophomore year.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.