Admitted to Tulane? What to See Before You Commit

Admitted to Tulane? Before you commit, see the academic quad, the central square where first-years live and eat, Broadway and Freret Street, and plan around Destination Tulane, the spring program for admitted students. This guide lays out what to see, how first-year housing works, and why one current student chose it. A private Uptown New Orleans tour covers whatever you still want to see, on your own schedule.

What should admitted students see at Tulane before committing?

Admitted students should see the parts of Tulane they will use every day before committing: the academic quad, the central square, the buildings for their major, the rec center, Broadway and Freret Street. Eliana, our Tulane Campus Lead, calls it "a really small campus actually," so all of it fits in one afternoon.

The academic quad. At the St. Charles Avenue end of campus. In Eliana's words, "that's where like almost all the academic buildings are. Except for like business school."
The central square. Up from the quad, "that's where all the dorms are. That's where like the food areas are." This is where a first-year lives and eats.
The buildings for the major. Find your student's department before you go. Most sit on the quad, and the business school is the exception.
Yulman Stadium and the rec center. The football field is at the lakeside end, with the rec center "right below the football field." From the bottom of campus it is "only a 15 minute walk."
Broadway. Greek row, "maybe a 10 minute walk to see all of them." Our guide to Greek life and rush at Tulane explains January recruitment.
Freret Street. The restaurant strip "about a 20 minute walk" east, where students go for dinner.

Walk it on a weekday during the semester if you can, so you see campus with classes in session.

When is Destination Tulane, the admitted student day?

Destination Tulane, the admitted student day, runs in the spring, and Tulane's admission office had not posted 2027 dates as of October 2026. "All admitted students and their families are invited to attend Destination Tulane," which the office describes as "a spring program that gives admitted students a comprehensive look at what life is like as a Tulane student" (Tulane admission, special programs).

What the day includes, per that page:

meeting current students and incoming classmates
a campus tour
a meal in the dining hall
answers on academics, financial aid and student life

Admitted students sign up for a date through the Green Wave Portal. If you can't travel, Tulane Receptions bring admission counselors to cities around the world to meet admitted students and their families each spring.

Destination Tulane shows the university's program. If you want to see Broadway, Freret Street or the buildings for one major with a current student on your own schedule, add a private tour the same weekend.

How do first-year housing assignments work at Tulane?

First-year housing assignments at Tulane work in four steps: apply, group with a roommate, wait for the assignment, then move in. Here is the 2026-27 cycle from Tulane's new student housing information, as a guide to next year's timing:

Apply in the spring. Complete the Housing Application and sign the Housing Agreement in the Housing Portal. For 2026-27, applications for incoming first-years opened March 2 and closed May 8, 2026. A completed application guarantees a first-time student a housing assignment.
Group with a roommate in June. The 2026 roommate grouping window ran June 3 to 18. Students can search by screen name, by lifestyle questionnaire or from a suggested list. Anyone who doesn't group gets a roommate assigned, and preferences are considered but not guaranteed.
Apply separately for a Residential Learning Community, if your student wants one. It needs its own application alongside the housing application.
Get the assignment in mid-July, then move in. First-year move-in for Fall 2026 ran August 9 to 11, with an assigned arrival time (housing important dates).

Every student living on campus must also have a dining plan. Dates for 2027-28 will differ, so check the Housing Portal once your student commits. Our guide to Tulane's six first-year residence halls compares the rooms in each hall and what a year costs with a dining plan.

Why do students choose Tulane over other schools?

Eliana, our Tulane Campus Lead, says she chose Tulane over other schools for distance from home, the warm South and a mix that didn't feel like the SEC. In her words, "I knew I needed somewhere away from Boston," "I also needed somewhere in the South... I love the warmth," and "I didn't like the like SEC vibe. So it's kind of just a good mix."

She isn't unusual in coming from far away: 86% of Tulane's undergraduates are from out of state, international students aside, out of 6,839 undergraduates in Fall 2025 (Tulane Common Data Set 2025-26).

What "a good mix" looks like day to day, from her other answers:

A small campus. "It's a really small campus actually," with everything a 15-minute walk apart.
Greek life without the pressure. "Greek life isn't huge. It's like very chill," she says, even though more than half of the women join. Her friend group "is across five sororities."
A city around it. Broadway next to campus, Freret Street a 20-minute walk away, and the streetcar to the rest of New Orleans.

Does Tulane's three-year housing rule change the decision?

Yes, Tulane's three-year housing rule can change the decision, because it sets where your student lives until senior year. "Students admitted as first time first year students (not transfer students) for the Fall 2023 semester or later are required to live on campus for their first three years at Tulane" (residency requirements, as of October 2026).

What it means for an admitted student:

Housing is settled for three years. No apartment search in the first three years, and the housing office says students in those years "should NOT sign a lease."
The exceptions are narrow. Approved fraternity chapter housing, a Tulane study abroad program, and exemptions such as living with a parent within 50 miles. Our Tulane off-campus housing guide covers them.
Sorority members live on campus too. Eliana: "we have houses, but you can't live in them."

For families who want a student on a campus with a residential core, the rule is a plus. For students who want an apartment by sophomore year, it is a reason to compare. To walk the halls, Broadway and Freret with a current student before you commit, a private tour is $150 for your family, 60 to 90 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Is first-year housing guaranteed at Tulane?

Yes, first-year housing is guaranteed at Tulane for new first-time students who submit a completed Housing Application, according to Housing and Residence Life. Students with incomplete applications don't receive an assignment and can't take part in roommate preferencing. For 2026-27, assignments were released in mid-July.

How do we sign up for Destination Tulane?

Admitted students sign up for a Destination Tulane date through the Green Wave Portal, per Tulane's admission office. The program runs in the spring and includes a campus tour, a dining hall meal and time with current students and incoming classmates. Dates for spring 2027 were not posted as of October 2026.

How big is Tulane?

Tulane had 6,839 undergraduates and 1,858 full-time first-year students in Fall 2025, according to its Common Data Set for 2025-26. The uptown campus is compact: Eliana, a current student, says it is "only a 15 minute walk" from the bottom of campus to the football field.

Where do Tulane first-years live?

Tulane first-years live in residence halls around the central square of the uptown campus, which Eliana, a current student, describes as "where all the dorms are" and where the food is. In Fall 2025, 97% of first-years lived in college housing, per the Common Data Set.

Sources, read October 2026: Tulane admission, special programs · Tulane new student housing information · Tulane housing important dates · Tulane residency requirements · Tulane Common Data Set