A Parent’s Complete Guide to Southeastern Louisiana University (2026-2027)
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Jump to
- What is the one thing every Southeastern Louisiana University parent needs to know before move-in?
- Quick Facts for Southeastern Louisiana University Families
- A Note on Lions Identity and Financial Aid
- Getting to Hammond
- What do parents need to know about Southeastern Louisiana University move-in day 2026?
- The Residence Halls: Where Your Student Might Live
- How much does Southeastern Louisiana University cost? Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for 2026-27
- Hammond and the Louisiana Northshore: What Parents Need to Know
- When is Southeastern Louisiana University Family Weekend 2026 and how do parents plan for it?
- How can parents support their Southeastern Louisiana University student’s mental health?
- Who do Southeastern Louisiana University parents contact? Essential numbers and websites for families
- Southeastern Louisiana’s Academic Strengths
- Getting Your Student’s Stuff Home Between Semesters
- You Are a Southeastern Louisiana Lions Family Now
- What is Southeastern Louisiana University’s graduation rate?
- Academic Calendar
- What to Pack for Southeastern Louisiana University
What is the one thing every Southeastern Louisiana University parent needs to know before move-in?
Southeastern Louisiana University was established in 1925 in Hammond, Louisiana, as Hammond Junior College, created to provide higher education access to the communities of the Florida Parishes, the north shore region of Louisiana that lies between the Mississippi River and the Louisiana-Mississippi state line.
In the 101 years since, Southeastern has grown from a junior college into a comprehensive doctoral-granting university of approximately 14,000 students, offering programs from nursing and business through the arts and sciences in a residential campus in Hammond, the commercial center of Tangipahoa Parish.
Hammond is a city of approximately 20,000 people in Tangipahoa Parish, located at the junction of I-55 (the north-south interstate connecting New Orleans to Chicago) and I-12 (the east-west interstate connecting Baton Rouge to the Mississippi Gulf Coast). The geographic position of Hammond at this interstate junction makes it one of the most accessible university cities in Louisiana, with New Orleans (45 miles south via I-55 and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway) accessible in under an hour, Baton Rouge (65 miles west via I-12) accessible in an hour, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Biloxi, 65 miles east via I-12) accessible in an hour.
The Northshore character of Tangipahoa Parish is the cultural setting of Southeastern: the Florida Parishes have a distinctive Louisiana identity that combines Cajun, Creole, Anglo-American Southern, and the Italian immigrant heritage of the strawberry farming communities of Ponchatoula and the Hammond area. The Tangipahoa strawberry harvest, the Hammond Strawberry Festival (among the most attended festivals in Louisiana), and the specific agricultural character of the Northshore distinguish the Southeastern campus community from the Cajun identity of south Louisiana and the north Louisiana Protestant character of Ruston and Monroe.
Quick Facts for Southeastern Louisiana University Families
| Family Weekend | Southeastern Louisiana University Family Weekend 2026 is November 14, 2026. |
| Location | Hammond, LA 70402 |
| Enrollment | ~14,000 students |
| Type | Public Doctoral University, Southland Conference |
| In-State Tuition (2026-27) | ~$7,000/year (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Out-of-State Tuition (2026-27) | ~$17,000/year (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Room and Board | ~$10,000-$12,000/year (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Total Cost (in-state) | ~$20,000-$22,000/year (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Total Cost (out-of-state) | ~$30,000-$32,000/year (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Graduation Rate | ~43% (6-year) |
| Median Earnings (10 years post-grad) | ~$37,000 (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Nearest Airport | MSY (New Orleans, 50 miles) or BTR (Baton Rouge, 65 miles) |
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A Note on Lions Identity and Financial Aid
Southeastern Louisiana’s athletic teams are the Lions, competing in the Southland Conference at the Division I level, with football at the FCS level. The colors are green and gold.
The Lions football program plays at Strawberry Stadium (a 30,010-seat on-campus facility named for the Tangipahoa Parish strawberry heritage), and the basketball program at the University Center provides the primary indoor athletics venue. The Southland Conference places Southeastern against McNeese, Nicholls, Houston Christian, and the other Louisiana and Texas regional universities in the conference schedule.
Financial aid at Southeastern is need-based and merit-based through federal, Louisiana state, and institutional programs. Louisiana residents should verify eligibility for the TOPS scholarship. Contact southeastern.edu/financial-aid for current programs.
Getting to Hammond
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is approximately 50 miles south of Hammond via I-55 and I-10, served by all major carriers from comprehensive national markets. Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) is approximately 65 miles west via I-12.
For families driving, I-55 connects Hammond directly to New Orleans (45 miles south) and to Jackson, Mississippi (115 miles north). I-12 connects west to Baton Rouge (65 miles) and east to Slidell, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast.
What do parents need to know about Southeastern Louisiana University move-in day 2026?
Southeastern’s fall move-in runs in mid-to-late August. Check southeastern.edu/housing for your student’s building and move-in window.
Hammond in mid-August is hot and humid in the south Louisiana way: temperatures in the low to mid 90s with the substantial humidity of the Lake Pontchartrain basin, afternoon thunderstorms, and the hurricane season awareness that is part of life in the Louisiana Florida Parishes.
Southeastern runs organized move-in with residential life staff and building-specific unloading areas.
Practical notes:
- Ship boxes ahead. Southeastern holds packages.
- After unloading, the Hammond restaurant scene on Thomas Street and the downtown Hammond corridor provides first-night dining options. New Orleans (45 miles south) is a natural first-night option for families who want to combine move-in day with a New Orleans dinner.
The Residence Halls: Where Your Student Might Live
Southeastern Louisiana’s residential system provides on-campus housing for approximately 3,500 students, with freshmen required to live on campus.
The North Oak and South Oak residential communities and the other freshman-designated halls provide suite-style and traditional configurations for incoming students.
The Stadium and Alumni Drive residential communities provide more independent living configurations for continuing students.
The Southeastern dining program operates through the University Center dining hall and other campus dining locations, with meal plan options for on-campus residents.
How much does Southeastern Louisiana University cost? Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for 2026-27
Louisiana residents should verify TOPS scholarship eligibility. Contact southeastern.edu/financial-aid for current programs.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-State Tuition and Fees | ~$7,000 (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Out-of-State Tuition and Fees | ~$17,000 (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Room and Board | ~$10,000-$12,000 (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Books and Supplies | ~$1,200 (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Personal and Transportation | ~$3,000 (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Estimated Total In-State (before aid) | ~$21,200-$23,200 (verify at southeastern.edu) |
| Estimated Total Out-of-State (before aid) | ~$31,200-$33,200 (verify at southeastern.edu) |
Louisiana residents should verify TOPS scholarship eligibility. Contact southeastern.edu/financial-aid for current programs.
If there is a gap between aid and costs, SoFi is consistently competitive on private loan rates. Always work with Southeastern’s financial aid office first.
FAFSA guide for Southeastern Louisiana families Full college cost planning guide
Hammond and the Louisiana Northshore: What Parents Need to Know
The Southeastern Louisiana parent visit combines the character of the Hammond Northshore community with the proximity to New Orleans, the most distinctive American city, as the primary day trip destination.
New Orleans (45 miles south via I-55, approximately 50 minutes) is the defining day trip destination for Southeastern Louisiana families: the French Quarter, the Garden District, Frenchmen Street (the New Orleans live music street that is the center of the authentic music scene), the Warehouse Arts District, the Magazine Street antique and shopping corridor, the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park, and the full range of the most distinctive culinary city in the United States. Commanders Palace (Garden District), Dooky Chase’s Restaurant (Mid-City), and the French Quarter restaurant and music scene are all accessible from Hammond as an afternoon and evening destination.
The Global Wildlife Center (26389 Highway 40, Folsom, approximately 20 miles north of Hammond) is a 900-acre wildlife preserve with giraffe, zebra, bison, deer, elk, and other animals accessible by wagon tours, one of the most distinctive family activity destinations in the Louisiana Northshore region.
The Zemurray Gardens (Highway 40, Loranger, approximately 15 miles north of Hammond) is a private azalea garden estate that opens for public tours during the spring azalea season, with one of the largest azalea collections in the Louisiana Northshore region.
Tickfaw State Park (Highway 22, Springfield, approximately 20 miles west of Hammond) provides swamp and bottomland hardwood forest recreation along the Tickfaw River, with canoe and kayak access into the Louisiana wetland landscape accessible from the Northshore.
Ponchatoula (approximately 10 miles south of Hammond via I-55) is the “Strawberry Capital of Louisiana,” with the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival and the antique shops of the downtown historic district that have made it a destination in the Northshore recreational and shopping scene.
For parent visit dining: Tope la (Thomas Street, Hammond, consistently one of the most celebrated restaurants in the Northshore region), and New Orleans for any parent visit that can extend to a full evening: the French Quarter’s Antoine’s (since 1840, the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the United States), or Commander’s Palace in the Garden District.
When is Southeastern Louisiana University Family Weekend 2026 and how do parents plan for it?
Southeastern Louisiana University Family Weekend 2026 is November 14, 2026.
Confirm the schedule and registration on the official Southeastern Louisiana University Family Day page, and reconfirm the date before booking travel in case it changes. Hotels near campus sell out early, so book as soon as dates are confirmed.
Comparing schools? See our 2026 parents weekend and family weekend dates for every college in one place.
Southeastern Louisiana refunds tuition on a declining schedule after the semester starts, so timing a withdrawal matters.
A student must officially resign through the Office of the Registrar (per the published Resignation Procedure and academic calendar deadlines) to receive any reduction in fees, and resigning can separately trigger financial aid adjustments that may create a new bill on the student’s account even when a tuition refund also applies.
Refund schedule: Refund percentage depends on when the student resigns: 100% (no fee) if resigning on or before the first day of class; 100% minus a $250 cancellation fee if resigning during the drop/add period; 50% from the day after drop/add through the eighth class day; 0% after the eighth class day.. Confirmed via the official Southeastern Louisiana refund policy page. Policies and dates change every term, so verify directly before making a decision.
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Most colleges do not refund 100% of tuition once the semester starts.
GradGuard Tuition Insurance can reimburse tuition, housing, and fees if a covered illness, injury, mental health condition, or other covered reason forces a withdrawal during the term. Plans must be purchased before the semester begins.
Freshmen may bring a car to Southeastern Louisiana, no special restriction.
No published car ban; freshmen are assigned to specific zones near their residence hall rather than being barred. Only one vehicle is allowed on campus per day even though a student may register up to two.
Freshman permit cost: $60/academic year. Confirmed via the official Southeastern Louisiana parking page. Policies can change year to year, so verify before move-in.
Southeastern’s Homecoming and the Southland Conference athletics schedule provide the primary athletics events for families. The Lions football program at Strawberry Stadium in the October and November Louisiana weather provides the primary fall athletics experience for families. Check southeastern.edu/athletics for current Family Weekend and home game schedules.
Hotel strategy: Hammond has hotel inventory along the I-55 and US-190 corridors. Book Homecoming and major football weekends in advance. New Orleans hotels are accessible for families who prefer a New Orleans base for a Southeastern visit weekend.
How can parents support their Southeastern Louisiana University student’s mental health?
Southeastern Louisiana’s Counseling Services provides individual therapy, group therapy, crisis support, and psychiatric referrals.
The hurricane vulnerability of the Louisiana Northshore region is a recurring environmental stressor for Southeastern students and families: the Florida Parishes have been significantly affected by major hurricanes, and the evacuation, return, and community recovery cycle of Louisiana coastal and near-coastal universities is part of the operational reality for Southeastern.
Southeastern mental health and health resources:
- Counseling Services: contact via southeastern.edu/counseling
- Student Health Center: contact via southeastern.edu/health
- Crisis line: 988 (call or text, 24/7)
- Emergency: 911
Who do Southeastern Louisiana University parents contact? Essential numbers and websites for families
Verify all phone numbers and URLs at selu.edu before using, as contact information is subject to change.
- Student Affairs / Parent Resources: contact via southeastern.edu/student-affairs
- Admission: contact via southeastern.edu/admissions
- Financial Aid: contact via southeastern.edu/financial-aid
- Housing: contact via southeastern.edu/housing
- Counseling Services: contact via southeastern.edu/counseling
- Student Health Center: contact via southeastern.edu/health
- University Police (non-emergency): contact via southeastern.edu/police
- Registrar: contact via southeastern.edu/registrar
- Emergency: 911
Southeastern Louisiana’s Academic Strengths
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences provides nursing programs that connect to the Northshore healthcare market and the New Orleans metropolitan area’s extensive healthcare employment landscape.
The nursing program serves the significant healthcare workforce needs of Tangipahoa Parish and the surrounding Northshore communities, and the proximity to New Orleans provides clinical training connections to the Ochsner Health System, Tulane Medical Center, and the LSU Health Sciences Center.
The College of Business is AACSB-accredited and provides undergraduate and MBA programs in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and information systems that connect to the Hammond commercial economy and the broader New Orleans and Baton Rouge employment markets accessible from the Northshore.
The College of Education provides teacher preparation programs for the Louisiana public school system and the Tangipahoa Parish school system in particular, maintaining Southeastern’s historical role as a teacher preparation institution for the Northshore communities.
The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences provides programs in communication, music, visual arts, English, history, and social sciences that serve the liberal arts education mission of a regional Louisiana university and connect to the arts and media industries of New Orleans, accessible 45 miles south.
Getting Your Student’s Stuff Home Between Semesters
MSY airport (50 miles south) and BTR (65 miles west) both provide national connectivity for end-of-semester travel. The Louisiana Northshore climate means December travel is generally weather-manageable. Storage Scholars specializes in student storage with residence hall pickup and delivery.
Full printable Southeastern Louisiana dorm packing list
You Are a Southeastern Louisiana Lions Family Now
New Orleans 45 miles south where the French Quarter is at the end of I-55 and the Frenchmen Street music is starting at 9pm and Commander’s Palace is serving turtle soup in the Garden District and the city that invented jazz and Creole cuisine and the second line is doing what it has been doing…
New Orleans 45 miles south where the French Quarter is at the end of I-55 and the Frenchmen Street music is starting at 9pm and Commander’s Palace is serving turtle soup in the Garden District and the city that invented jazz and Creole cuisine and the second line is doing what it has been doing since before Louisiana was a state. The Global Wildlife Center 20 miles north where the giraffes are doing what giraffes do in Tangipahoa Parish. Strawberry Stadium in October when the Northshore Louisiana fall is arriving and the Lions are playing Southland Conference football in a stadium named for the strawberry that made this parish famous in Louisiana agriculture.
Southeastern Louisiana has been in Hammond since 1925, at the junction of the interstates that connect New Orleans to Chicago and Baton Rouge to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, serving the Florida Parishes of Louisiana with the full range of a university education. The Lions are in Hammond. New Orleans is 45 miles south. The strawberries are in Ponchatoula.
Geaux Lions.
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Last updated: May 2026. Tuition, dates, and policies subject to change. Verify all time-sensitive information at southeastern.edu and southeastern.edu/housing.
Where to stay near Southeastern Louisiana University
Hotels near campus fill up fast on move-in and Family Weekend. This live map shows places to stay near Southeastern Louisiana University. Drag the map or change the dates to fit your trip.
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What is Southeastern Louisiana University’s graduation rate?
Southeastern Louisiana University graduates 26.3% of students in four years; another 19.1 points finish within six. About 72.5% of first-year students return for sophomore year. Each bar is compared to the national average, marked by the vertical line.
22.7 pts below national
18.6 pts below national
8.5 pts below national
Here is how to read these numbers: the four-year and six-year rates show how many students finish on time and eventually, and retention shows how many return after the first year. Wherever your student lands, the habits that keep them on track matter most: a full, well-sequenced course load, an advisor meeting every term, and using campus support early. See why most students don’t graduate in four years and how to choose the right classes in the right order.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, most recent available data. National averages: NCES. Figures are for first-time, full-time bachelor’s-seeking students.
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Academic Calendar
Key dates for the Southeastern Louisiana University 2026-2027 academic year. Always verify at the official Registrar page before making travel plans.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 classes begin | August 19, 2026 |
| Fall break | October 8-9, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving break | November 25-27, 2026 |
| Fall finals | December 5-11, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 classes begin | January 20, 2027 |
| Spring break | March 26-April 2, 2027 |
| Spring finals | May 8-14, 2027 |
| Commencement | May 15, 2027 |
Winter break housing: Most Southeastern Louisiana residence halls close for winter break. Students who need to stay on campus must apply for break housing through Residential Life in November. Check the housing portal for specific closure dates and application deadlines.
What to Pack for Southeastern Louisiana University
Every dorm is different, but these are the items parents of Southeastern Louisiana University students buy most. Ship directly to campus and skip the trunk-stuffing stress.
Twin XL Bedding Set
Sheets, comforter, and pillowcases — buy before you arrive so the bed is ready day one.
Shower Caddy & Flip Flops
Shared bathrooms require these. Get a hanging caddy and waterproof sandals before move-in.
Surge Protector Power Strip
Most dorms allow 6-outlet surge protectors with USB ports. Check your school’s policy first.
Want the full list? See our complete college packing list →
Shipping to campus? Students get 6 months of Amazon Prime for Young Adults free, then half price on the student’s own account. Here is how it works.
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