What Southern University and A & M College is like

What it's like

Southern University and A&M College is Louisiana's largest HBCU and a major research institution with strong traditions in athletics, performing arts, and civic engagement. The campus sits on 512 acres in Baton Rouge with a distinctive identity anchored by the Human Jukebox marching band and the Bayou Classic football rivalry. Student life centers around a mix of academic rigor, active athletics in Division I, and student activism—a campus where political awareness and community organizing have deep roots.

Academic feel

Southern operates six degree-granting colleges plus a law school, with particular strength in nursing, engineering, and STEM fields. The institution earned R2 Carnegie Classification in 2021 (Doctoral University; High Research Activity), making it one of only 11 HBCUs with this designation and the first in Louisiana. The College of Nursing and Allied Health won Louisiana's nursing school of the year award six times and is the nation's largest producer of African Americans with Master of Science in Nursing degrees. Southern is Louisiana's only HBCU and one of six public universities in the state with an engineering program. The law school, one of only two public law schools in Louisiana, has operated since 1947. Research output spans sociology, psychology, political science, optics, organic chemistry, and particle physics.

Social life

The Human Jukebox marching band—featured in Super Bowl halftime shows, presidential inaugurations, the Rose Parade, and music videos for major artists—is a defining cultural force on campus. The Bayou Classic football game against Grambling State University draws national television coverage from NBC. Campus life includes eight residence halls, the Smith-Brown Memorial Union with dining, bowling, and recreation facilities, and active student organizations. Athletics are central, with 13 intercollegiate teams competing in NCAA Division I and the SWAC. The campus has a documented history of student activism and political engagement, dating to organized demonstrations in the early 1970s around governance and representation.

What you should consider

Southern draws 70% of its students from Louisiana and attracts learners from across the country, with significant enrollment from Texas, Georgia, and California. The student body is approximately 82% Black and 18% non-Black, with 66% female and 34% male. The Dolores Spikes Honors College serves high-achieving undergraduates seeking an enhanced academic experience. Students interested in STEM, nursing, law, and research thrive in a land-grant environment with nationally recognized ROTC programs and significant research infrastructure. Athletes find a home in a Division I athletic program with strong football and basketball traditions.

Strengths

• The College of Nursing and Allied Health is the largest producer of African Americans with Master of Science in Nursing degrees in the nation and one of only two colleges in Louisiana to offer a PhD in Nursing.[1]
• Southern attained R2 Carnegie Classification in 2021 (Doctoral University; High Research Activity), making it one of only 11 HBCUs with this status and the first HBCU in Louisiana in this category.[1]
• The Southern University marching band (Human Jukebox) has performed in six Super Bowl halftime shows, the Rose Parade, and presidential inaugurations, and was named #1 Band in the Nation by USA Today in 2008.[1]
• Southern is the only HBCU and one of six public universities in Louisiana with an engineering program.[1]
• The Southern University Law Center is one of only two public law schools in Louisiana and is accredited by the American Bar Association.[1]
• Between 2004 and 2013, Southern University ranked 4th in the nation for baccalaureate-origin institution of black male doctorate recipients.[1]

Weaknesses

• In 2013, the American Association of University Professors censured Southern University for laying off 19 tenured professors during the 2011-12 school year while giving faculty little to no say in the matter.[1]

Traditions

• The Human Jukebox marching band has represented Southern University since 1947 and is a well-known collegiate marching band featured in television commercials, music videos, and major national events.[2]
• The Bayou Classic, an annual NCAA Division I football game between Southern University and Grambling State University, has received live NBC coverage for more than 20 years.[1]