How to get into Xavier University of Louisiana
How to get into Xavier of Louisiana: the only historically Black Catholic university in the US and a top-tier HBCU pre-med pipeline
69%
Acceptance rate
$28,733
In-state cost
What makes Xavier University of Louisiana admissions different
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private Catholic HBCU in New Orleans — roughly 2,600 undergrads, and the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States. Xavier has a nationally distinctive pre-med pipeline (consistently sending more Black students to medical school than almost any other US college, including much larger institutions) and established programs in pharmacy, biology, chemistry, and the College of Pharmacy. Xavier admits around 69% of applicants. For students considering an HBCU, particularly with pre-health goals, Xavier's outcomes are exceptional.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App or Xavier's direct application. The school operates on rolling admissions with priority deadlines; earlier applicants get best scholarship consideration.
- 2.
Pre-med applicants: engage seriously with Xavier's biology and pre-medical concentration. The pre-med advising and MCAT preparation are a major reason Xavier students get into medical school at high rates.
- 3.
Pharmacy applicants: confirm the College of Pharmacy direct-admit pathway. Xavier's six-year PharmD pathway admits highly motivated students at application and is one of the best HBCU pipelines into pharmacy.
- 4.
Apply for merit scholarships. Xavier's Presidential, Trustee, and named scholarships substantially reduce sticker price for most admits.
- 5.
Write a 'why Xavier' supplement (when offered) that engages with the school's HBCU and Catholic identity and your specific academic goals.
- 6.
Schedule a campus visit or attend a virtual session. Xavier values demonstrated interest and the New Orleans campus and city are part of the pitch.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Treating Xavier as a generic HBCU backup. The pre-med and pharmacy outcomes are genuinely distinctive and the Catholic identity differentiates Xavier from other HBCUs.
- ✕
Missing the priority scholarship deadline.
- ✕
Ignoring the pharmacy direct-admit pathway when that's the goal. Internal transfer into the College of Pharmacy is competitive.
- ✕
Underestimating the residential and academic culture. The pre-med rigor is real — Xavier has high standards in the sciences.
The specifics for Xavier University of Louisiana
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Only historically Black Catholic university in the US
Xavier of Louisiana holds a unique institutional identity as the only HBCU with Catholic sponsorship, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
Xavier consistently ranks at or near the top of US institutions for sending Black students to medical school, with established structured pre-med advising, MCAT preparation, and a track record across decades.
College of Pharmacy (six-year PharmD)
Xavier's College of Pharmacy admits direct-admit students into a six-year PharmD program — one of the strongest HBCU pipelines into pharmacy in the country.
What graduates actually do
Xavier University of Louisiana is the only historically Black, Catholic university in the United States and is the nation's #1 producer of Black students who go on to earn medical degrees and the leading producer of Black graduates with degrees in the biological/life sciences and physical sciences. Alumni populate medical, dental, and pharmacy schools at exceptional rates — Xavier's pre-med pipeline is regarded as one of the most effective in American higher education. Graduates also feed pharmacy (Xavier has one of the few HBCU pharmacy schools), education, and Louisiana civic leadership.
Notable alumni
- Alexis Herman — Politics (US Secretary of Labor)
- Regina Benjamin — Medicine (US Surgeon General)
- Kim Coles — Acting/comedy
- Bernard Tyson — Healthcare (Kaiser Permanente CEO)
Transfer pathway
Xavier accepts transfer applications for fall and spring. The university has articulation agreements with Delgado Community College and other Louisiana Community and Technical College System institutions. A 2.5+ GPA is typically required, with higher thresholds (3.0+) for pre-pharmacy and pre-med tracks. Xavier's College of Pharmacy admits transfers selectively into its 6-year PharmD program.
Articulation partners
Delgado Community College · Baton Rouge Community College · Nunez 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
If you have a B+ transcript and an interest in pre-med, pharmacy, or the sciences at an HBCU, Xavier is a likely admit and worth seriously considering for its medical-school placement outcomes. The cost is offset substantially by merit aid for most admits. The Catholic-HBCU identity is genuinely unique and the New Orleans setting matters — visit if you can.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.