News

January 15, 2025

Dillard University presents the opportunity to commit early, giving incoming students a head start prepping for Fall 2025

Choosing a college is no easy task, and students preparing to attend college can spend countless hours poring over the ins and outs of application and enrollment documents. Dillard University has streamlined this process for incoming students, making it as accessible as possible. Once accepted, the admissions office empowers students to commit early to enrolling through clear communication of the next steps.

“Students who commit early have more time and resources on hand to take advantage of all that Dillard has to offer,” said Ronette King, Special Assistant to the President of Dillard University.

More information detailing what is needed for enrollment process can be found online at: www.dillard.edu/admissions-aid/new-student-orientation/dates-deadlines/.

In the past year, the Office of Academic, Financial, and Wealth Management was launched and is dedicated to being a campus treasury of resources and assistance to 1st generation college students. Dillard University, situated in the heart of the Gentilly neighborhood in New Orleans, is an HBCU with a powerful legacy of supporting 1st generation students. The administration developed this service-oriented office to further guide students, not just through a successful college career, but to a well-rounded, successful future.

Application Process

Students who are interested in applying to Dillard can start an application profile online at: www.apply.dillard.edu. The application priority deadline for the Fall 2025 semester is June 1st, and students must have received their acceptance by this deadline to be considered for the University and Presidential Scholarships. Applicants should allow 5-7 business days for processing.

There is an application fee of $40 payable via check or money order, made out to Dillard University. Fee waivers can be provided upon referral from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the College Board, a financial hardship letter, or proof of free or reduced lunch.

If an applicant doesn’t meet the minimum requirements for admission, which are an ACT composite score of 18 or a 960 on the SAT and an unweighted GPA of 2.5 or higher, then a personal statement essay and two letters of recommendation may be submitted for further consideration.

Under the school’s Test Optional Policy, it is optional to submit ACT/SAT scores. If students opt out of sending in test scores, they must have a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0. Admissions also takes into account extracurriculars, community service, and personal achievements.

Institutional Merit-based Scholarships

To be eligible for the University Scholarship which grants the recipient a full ride, the applicant must have a minimum of a 3.8 GPA and an ACT of 27 or the SAT equivalent. The Presidential Scholarship requires a 3.67 – 3.799 GPA and an ACT score of 25-26 or the SAT equivalent. Students who are awarded the Presidential Scholarship will have their full tuition waived.

Financial Aid

Understanding the financial aid process is crucial to completing your college application process successfully. The first step to exploring your financial aid options is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA form can be found online at: www.studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

University, state, and federal student aid programs across the country utilize the FAFSA form to determine what financial aid you’re eligible to receive. Financial aid can include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. All students who wish to be considered for financial aid should file their FAFSA during their application process to post-secondary institutions. To maintain financial aid throughout your educational journey a FAFSA form must be completed every year.

The process takes approximately 1 hour, and students will need the following information on hand: their verified account and password, otherwise known as an FSA ID, date of birth, social security number, email address, and their parent or spouse contributor name. Information on household income and assets is often required, as well.

Fall 2025 is bringing a wave of new and exciting opportunities to the student body of Dillard University. Most notably, Dillard was awarded the Community Change Grant in 2024 and will be breaking ground on historic climate action this year in partnership with United Way of Southeast Louisiana. This $19.9 million dollar grant was bestowed by the Environmental Protection Agency. This grant will be put towards efforts that will reduce the carbon footprint of the school by updating the HVAC system to a more energy efficient solution, as well as installing solar panels. An energy storage system will be situated on campus, and in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster the university will be prepared to be an asset to the surrounding community.

Transportation is another area of focus the grant funding will be allocated towards, and the well-received New Orleans Blue Bike program will be expanded to the Dillard campus. 300 families will be provided with e-bikes, and EV chargers will be installed on campus. There will also be non-degree certificate programs focused on clean energy and climate resilience available for students to participate in on campus.

In New Orleans East, the new E. Ross Studios is setting up shop on the site of the old Six Flags lot, and their state-of-the-art facilities, along with the Louisiana tax credit incentive, will entice more blockbuster films to bring their production to New Orleans in the coming years. Dillard has built a partnership with E. Ross Studios, and the studio will be offering non-degree certificate programs on campus, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. These six-week programs will teach students the ins and outs of filmmaking and provide insight on how to begin a career in the film industry. The studio is owned by Elvin Ross, an Emmy award winning composer, who grew up in Louisiana.

Changes to the Dillard University campus can be expected at the start of Fall 2025. There is a new dormitory building currently under construction, and it will house its first students in the fall. It is anticipated a new mural will be added to the newly inaugurated building, and the administration is in talks about commissioning another mural for the wall of the library building, as well. These exciting additions will continue to elevate Dillard’s already remarkable campus.

In December 2024, Dr. Monique Guillory was named the permanent President of Dillard University. With over 30 years of higher education administrative experience, Dr. Guillory was unanimously elected by the Board of Trustees to serve Dillard as president, and the university welcomes her continued leadership as a number of these new initiatives come to fruition in 2025.

For more information about Dillard University and its offerings visit: www.dillard.edu