Acceptance Rate
79%
Avg. SAT
1270
75th percentile
“Kentucky's urban research engine driving engineering, medicine, and innovation amid bourbon trails and Derby crowds.”
Louisville, KY
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
Chartered in 1798 and opening its doors in 1837, the University of Louisville grew from a private medical college into a public research powerhouse after merging with the state system in the 1970s. Students who thrive here chase practical careers in health, tech, and business, drawn to the school's no-nonsense focus on real-world skills amid Louisville's gritty, revitalizing energy. You'll navigate a sprawling Belknap campus edged by the Ohio River, where urban bustle meets green quads, but expect larger class sizes in intro courses and competition for spots in oversubscribed programs like engineering.
Louisville wraps around campus like a lively neighbor—think Churchill Downs thundering nearby, distilleries lining the Bourbon Trail, and Muhammad Ali's legacy in sleek museums. The personality leans welcoming and hardworking, with Kentuckians mixing alongside out-of-staters seeking affordable city life. Tradeoffs include humid summers that stick to your skin and a cost of living that's reasonable but rising with the city's tech boom, plus housing that's plentiful off-campus but parking stays a perpetual headache.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Available Online
Degree Levels Offered
In classrooms, you'll tackle hands-on projects at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, one of the nation's oldest, or dissect cases in the School of Medicine, which claims the first chair of ophthalmology in America. Professors emphasize applied research, pulling undergrads into labs studying everything from biofuels to cancer therapies, though first-year lectures pack hundreds and upper-level seminars feel more intimate. The intellectual vibe rewards doers over debaters, with strong tracks in dentistry, business, and justice administration.
Expect some majors like nursing to fill quickly, pushing late applicants to alternates, but the public price tag keeps doors open wider than at pricier privates. Research thrives here—students co-author papers and snag patents—yet the scale means faculty time varies, favoring those who hustle for office hours.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
17,086 undergrad • 5,979 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
61%
Black / African American
15%
Hispanic / Latino
8%
Asian
6%
Other / Multi-racial
10%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Louisville, KY
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week mixes morning lectures with afternoon tailgates before Cardinals football or basketball games that electrify the KFC Yum! Center. Campus pulses with over 300 clubs, from urban beekeeping to Irish dance, and Greek life draws about 15 percent into parties that spill into the Highlands nightlife. Residential halls cluster freshmen together in high-rises like Kurz or Community Park, fostering quick bonds, though upperclassmen often snag cheaper apartments nearby.
Traditions like the Cardinal Walk before big games build school spirit, but the urban setup means you'll weave through city traffic for fun, with Louisville's food trucks and Fourth Street Live offering easy escapes. Challenges hit with gray winters and a social scene that's lively yet spread out, suiting extroverts who dive into the mix over those craving a tight-knit bubble.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Atlantic Coast Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
81%
4 Years Graduation Rate
43%
6 Years Graduation Rate
60%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$53,899
81% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at University of Louisville and return in the fall. 43% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 60% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
43%
4-5 years
17%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
39%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$12,324
Acceptance
79%
Undergrads
17,086
4-Year Grad Rate
43%
Endowment
$922M
Louisville, KY 40292-0001
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