Founded in 1834 as the Medical College of Louisiana to combat yellow fever and evolving into a private research institution through gifts from philanthropist Paul Tulane, Tulane University is a premier private research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Spanning a 110-acre main campus in Uptown New Orleans along St. Charles Avenue across from Audubon Park, Tulane connects tropical medicine, law, business analytics, and environmental engineering. You can explore its founding charter, medical history, and campus development through the Tulane University Wikipedia historical entry.
When you attend Tulane, you enter an intellectually rigorous academic community known for mandatory service-learning requirements, small class sizes, and deep cultural integration into New Orleans. Living in Uptown New Orleans places you steps away from historic streetcars, live jazz clubs, culinary festivals, and coastal research centers.
Premier Academic Programs
Tulane organizes its instruction across ten specialized undergraduate and graduate schools holding top global reputations:
- A. B. Freeman School of Business: AACSB-accredited business school famous for energy trading, corporate finance, entrepreneurship, and accounting. Explore degree options on the Freeman School of Business portal.
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: Oldest public health school in the United States, leading global research in infectious disease and epidemiology.
- Tulane University Law School: World-renowned law school specializing in maritime law, environmental regulation, sports law, and civil litigation.
- School of Science and Engineering: Delivers hands-on instruction in biomedical engineering, computer science, and coastal geosciences.
- School of Architecture: Pioneer in climate-resilient architecture, urban water design, and historic preservation.
"Non Sibi, Sed Suis, translated from Latin as Not for Oneself, But for One's Own, serves as Tulane's official motto."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on Gibson Quad, the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, and McAlister Auditorium. School spirit revolves around Riptide the Wave, the energetic official mascot representing Tulane Green Wave athletic teams competing in NCAA Division I American Athletic Conference sports. You can read about spirit traditions and mascot history on the official Tulane Green Wave Athletics portal. Cheering inside Yulman Stadium for football games, celebrating Mardi Gras traditions, and joining over 250 student clubs creates an extraordinary campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Tropical Medicine
Tulane operates a multi-billion-dollar research framework deeply connected with global bio-defense and river science:
- Tulane National Primate Research Center: Premier biomedical facility conducting research in infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, Lyme disease, and viral vaccines.
- Bywater Institute: Interdisciplinary research center evaluating river basin dynamics, coastal wetland preservation, and urban climate resilience. Learn more via Tulane Research Operations.
- Tulane Cancer Center: Leading research institute advancing gene therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted oncology treatments.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of cabinet secretaries, corporate founders, media figures, and medical pioneers, including:
- David Filo: Co-founder of Yahoo! who earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Tulane.
- Newt Gingrich: Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who earned his Master's and Ph.D. in History at Tulane.
- Lisa P. Jackson: Former Administrator of the EPA and Vice President of Environment at Apple who studied chemical engineering at Tulane.
- Jerry Springer: Television host and former Mayor of Cincinnati who earned his Juris Doctor degree at Tulane.
Tulane meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduate students through grant-based aid packages. Review complete admission standards on the official Tulane Admissions portal.