Louisiana Promise Opens Tulane’s Doors to State’s Best and Brightest

Trenen Prater of Baton Rouge had multiple college acceptances to choose from when he graduated high school at 16 in 2025. But instead of heading across the country, he decided to enroll 70 miles down the river at Tulane University.

That decision was made possible by Louisiana Promise, a program launched by Tulane President Michael A. Fitts to make a Tulane education more accessible and affordable for Louisiana residents while enrolling the best and brightest students — like Prater.

“Programs like this remind students that their circumstances do not define their potential,” said Prater, a rising sophomore who is on a pre-med track in the School of Science and Engineering but is also considering sociology as a major. “They make it possible for students who dream big, even beyond what seems realistic, to pursue an education and build a future where they can give back and help others.”

Through the Louisiana Promise program, Tulane provides grants and scholarships to make up the difference between the cost of attending Tulane and what Louisiana families earning less than $100,000 per year can pay.

“We never want cost to be a barrier for any qualified student to attend Tulane,” Fitts said. “Louisiana Promise is part of the university’s expanding partnership with our home state. The future of Tulane is inextricably linked with Louisiana’s, and this program is one of the numerous ways we are working to keep the top students right here at home.”

Since its launch, Louisiana Promise’s impact has been dramatic in fueling enrollment growth among Louisiana students, with students hailing from 36 parishes. The highest representation has come from Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans and St. Tammany parishes.

“We’ve seen a veritable explosion of interest in Tulane among students from Louisiana,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission Shawn Abbott. “Louisiana was always a distant third behind New York and California. There’s no question that we have been successful in identifying and recruiting a wider swath of candidates from Louisiana than we ever have.”

Tulane leaders say the program is not only expanding access but also strengthening the university’s connection to the state.

“We’re a national university, but we’re also an important institution in Louisiana,” said Mollye Demosthenidy, dean of Newcomb-Tulane College. “There is so much talent and ambition in every corner of this state, and programs like Louisiana Promise make it possible for those students to see Tulane as a real option.”

Demosthenidy said many of the students who qualify for the program are being recruited by top universities across the country. “These are students who could go anywhere,” she said. “The fact that they are choosing Tulane is a validation of what we offer — not just academically, but as a community. Louisiana Promise helps make that choice possible.”

Louisiana Promise students include Eva Martinez of New Orleans, a rising sophomore who said the program lifted a substantial financial weight off her and her family, allowing her to concentrate on her engineering physics studies in the School of Science and Engineering. Beyond finances, she said, the scholarship made her feel seen and recognized.

“It feels like Tulane believes in my vision for the future and is investing in my success,” Martinez said. “I’m working toward becoming extremely successful in my field, and I hope that one day my achievements will reflect positively on Tulane and on the community that supported me.”

Khoa Hoang, who was born in Vietnam and grew up in Harvey, Louisiana, agreed. “It allowed me to attend a highly prestigious university without the burden of taking out loans and graduating with debt. Developing talent here increases the chance that talent stays here.”

And, as an added bonus, he got to stay close to home. “I can’t put into words what it means to me to be a Tulanian, and it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Louisiana Promise,” said Hoang, a rising sophomore in the A. B. Freeman School of Business.

Louisiana Promise is not just about gaining access to Tulane. Through the initiative, high school students can get a jump start on searching for and applying to the university of their choice via the Louisiana Center for College Access (LCCA) and its Summer Residential Program.

The LCCA also provides free college preparatory services to Louisiana students and their families through an array of virtual and in-person classes and workshops, including standardized test tutoring and sessions on the college search, application and financial aid process. The center is especially beneficial to students who are the first in their families to attend college, as well as those without access to well-resourced college counseling programs. Its goal is to ensure that all Louisiana students have access to the support they need to find their best college fit.

“The center has soared in popularity,” Abbott said. “I think it is seen as arguably the premier college access organization in the state.”

The LCCA Summer Residential Program is a two-week residential experience on Tulane’s campus that prepares Louisiana students for the college application process and exposes them to life on a college campus. Participants can choose from a wide variety of courses, from neuroscience to digital graphic design to artificial intelligence systems during their time on campus.

While participants in those two programs may not ultimately apply to Tulane, Abbott said their exposure to Tulane makes it a realistic possibility. “They see Tulane as a viable financial option whereas before Tulane might never have crossed their minds.”

As a high school senior, Kyrsten Thompson, a first-generation college student from Shreveport, took advantage of LCCA services, including ACT tutoring and college preparation. When she learned about Louisiana Promise, she realized Tulane — her dream school — was within reach.

“Being in Louisiana Promise has expanded what I thought was possible for me,” said Thompson, a rising sophomore. “Prior to applying to Tulane, I thought I would either have to take a gap year or go to community college instead of going to my top-choice school.”

A political economy major in the School of Liberal Arts, Thompson said her first year on campus has exceeded her expectations. Without the burden of financial stress, she has been able to focus on academics and career goals, including internships and networking opportunities.

“It’s given me the freedom to pursue opportunities that I wouldn’t have had before,” she said. “If I had to describe Louisiana Promise in one word, it would be ‘opportunity.’ It shows that students like me belong here.”