Graduate Admission Requirements, Expectations & Deadlines
Your journey begins here. Learn more about requirements, expectations, and deadlines for admission to UL Lafayette’s Graduate School.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for graduate study at UL Lafayette, you must:
- have (or soon have) a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from a regionally accredited university. Learn more about how to provide proof of degree.
- demonstrate English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) if you are an international applicant. Learn more about who is required to demonstrate English language proficiency.
- provide additional application materials (including GRE/GMAT) depending on the degree program to which you're applying. Learn more about individual program application requirements and deadlines.
Expectations for Graduate Admission
Below are the preferred expectations for GPA and GRE/GMAT (required by some programs) as well as the minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores to qualify an applicant for unconditional graduate admission.
Learn more about GRE and GMAT score expectations.
Doctoral (PhD, EdD, DNP) Degree Programs:
- GPA – a 3.0 overall GPA (4.0 scale) on undergraduate work and/or 3.3 overall GPA (4.0 scale) on graduate work already completed
- GRE – not required for all graduate programs / preferred expectations are set by individual graduate programs / contact the graduate coordinator for more information
Master’s Degree Programs
- GPA – a 2.75 overall undergraduate GPA or, for those with US degrees, a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate study
- GRE – not required for all graduate programs / preferred expectations are set by individual graduate programs / contact the graduate coordinator for more information
- GMAT (Accounting MS and MBA only) – a total score of 450
Non-Degree-Seeking and Graduate Certificate Programs
- Our non-degree-seeking entrée program requires proof of a bachelor’s degree for admission.
- Our non-degree-seeking Master’s +30 program requires proof of a master’s degree for admission.
- See our Graduate Certificate program descriptions for individual admission requirements.
English Language Proficiency
- Duolingo English Test score of at least 110
- IELTS combined score of at least 6.5
- TOEFL total score of at least 79
- TOEFL Essentials score of 8.5
- PTE total score of at least 53
If you do not meet these English language proficiency requirements, we encourage you to apply to the UL Lafayette Intensive English Program (IEP).
Application Deadlines
While many graduate programs follow the deadlines listed below, some program deadlines may vary. If not specified otherwise there, the following application deadlines apply.
| Semester | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | June 30 | May 15 |
| Spring | November 30 | October 1 |
| Summer | April 30 | N/A |
After these deadlines, late fees apply and we cannot guarantee that your application will be reviewed in time to start classes (or receive an I-20, if an international applicant).
Note: Incoming international students may not apply for the summer semester as their first term.
For international students, there are deadlines for receiving initial I-20s. For applications that do not have a decision made before these deadlines, no initial I-20s will be issued.
| Semester | I-20 Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | June 30 |
| Spring | November 15 |
Application Fees
| Application Type | First-Time | Re-Entry | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| International | $30 | $25 | $25 |
Assistantship Application Deadlines
| Semester | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | March 1 |
| Spring | November 1 |
Individual graduate degree programs may adhere to different program deadlines. Please contact your graduate coordinator directly for deadline information.
Fellowship Application Deadlines
The deadline for all fellowship applications is February 1.
Other Information
To be clear, your undergraduate academic performance and test scores are an important part of your graduate school application because they help predict how successful you’ll be in grad school. But they’re not everything!
Graduate admission decisions at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette are based on your entire application. We use a portfolio approach that allows stronger aspects of your application—for example, strong letters of reference or professional experience—to compensate for weaker parts, such as lower test scores.
When you submit your application, you are responsible for ensuring that you meet the admissions requirements. You are officially admitted only when you receive written notice from the Dean of the Graduate School. Correspondence from a department or faculty member does not guarantee your admission to UL Lafayette. The University is in compliance with all federal laws pertaining to discrimination.