Tulane University

New Orleans, LA · founded 1834 · 14,000 students · private research university · American Athletic Conference

Known for: A major private research university located in historic New Orleans, Tulane is famous for its vibrant campus life, strong programs in law, business, public health, and liberal arts, and its deep connection to the culture and recovery of the city post-Hurricane Katrina.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #73
QS World: #391
Times Higher Education: #301
Forbes: #112

Top programmes

Public Health
Law
Business
Architecture
Neuroscience
Political Science

Notable alumni

Newt Gingrich — Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Lindy Boggs — Former U.S. Representative and U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See.
Michael DeBakey — Pioneering cardiovascular surgeon.
John Kennedy Toole — Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'A Confederacy of Dunces'.
Paula Zahn — Television news anchor and journalist.
James Carville — Political consultant and commentator.
Shelby Foote — Historian and novelist, known for his work on the Civil War.

Traditions

Crawfest (annual crawfish boil)
Homecoming and the 'Battle for the Bell' football game
Wave Goodbye (freshman orientation ceremony)
Mardi Gras celebrations and parades
Green Wave athletics events

If Tulane University were…

As a food: Cochon's boudin with champagne — High-low blend that shouldn't work but does—Tulane pairs Ivy-adjacent academics with swampy, boozy New Orleans grit. It's refined enough for the country club kids but still knows how to get messy on Frenchmen Street.
As an athlete: Eli Manning — Prep-school pedigree, unexpectedly thrives in chaos, beloved in New Orleans. Tulane students come from privilege but learn to navigate disaster, rebuild, and throw a hell of a party while doing serious work.
As a person alive today: Sonia Sotomayor — Combines elite credentials with genuine commitment to justice and community service. Tulane's post-Katrina identity is built on social entrepreneurship and public health, not just résumé-building—though students do plent
As a historical figure: Huey Long — Populist energy meets establishment power. Tulane straddles wealth and service, training future lawyers and doctors who claim to care about equity while summering on the Gulf Coast.
As a movie or TV show: Treme (HBO) — Gritty, culturally rich, resilient after catastrophe. Tulane's identity is inseparable from New Orleans—students engage deeply with the city's music, food, and recovery while partying their way through undergrad.
As a US president: Bill Clinton — Charismatic, socially progressive rhetoric, comfortable in both elite and working-class spaces, maybe parties a little too hard. Tulane students talk public service while networking their way into consulting and law.
As a city: Lisbon — Historic, charming, a little decadent, rebuilding from past trauma with creative energy. Both are underrated gems where international students mix with locals, everyone drinks too much, and the vibe is more soulful than
As an element: Gold — Precious, resilient to corrosion, associated with both Mardi Gras excess and old-money Southern tradition. Tulane gleams with privilege but has proven its durability through Katrina and beyond.
As a car: 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville convertible — Tulane is big, brassy, and unapologetically fun—a land yacht that parties down Bourbon Street but also rolls up sleeves for post-Katrina rebuilding. It's pre-med meets Mardi Gras, service-oriented with a jazz soundtrack

Campus life

Tulane offers a unique, high-energy campus life deeply intertwined with the culture of New Orleans. Social life is vibrant, with a strong Greek life presence, legendary parties, and easy access to the city's music, food, and festivals. Students are known for being socially engaged, enjoying both rigorous academics and the celebratory spirit of NOLA.