Results from The Hullabaloo’s fall 2025 student survey offered a snapshot of how students perceive Tulane University. With responses segmented by household income, legacy status and first-generation status, the data reflects that enthusiasm for Tulane varies significantly across socioeconomic categories.
Among other demographic information, respondents reported their annual pre-taxation household income and if they were the first in their family to attend college. Students were also asked if they had a parent, grandparents, siblings or close family member who attended Tulane.
Students then chose their attitudes toward attending Tulane from five options ranging from “I hate it” to “I am enthusiastic about it.”
Among all socioeconomic groups, the majority of respondents expressed a positive view of the school, responding that they either liked or were enthusiastic about Tulane. However, students from higher-income households expressed markedly stronger enthusiasm for Tulane, with the exception of the highest income bracket. Among respondents from families earning between $400,000 and $1 million annually, 51.7% reported being enthusiastic about the university, with only 6.4% total expressing dislike or hate.
Conversely, students from households earning less than $60,000 were much less effusive, with only 36% enthusiastic and 12% total choosing dislike or hate.
The $60,000 to $120,000 bracket reported the highest rate of dissatisfaction, with 12.2% answering “I don’t like it” and 2.4% answering “I hate it” while also having the lowest rate of enthusiasm at 14.6%.
Non-first-generation college students reported a slightly more positive attitude toward Tulane than their first-generation peers. While 31.8% of first-gen students were enthusiastic about attending Tulane, 41.5% of non-first-gen students felt the same. Additionally, first-gen students were more likely to be neutral, at 13.6% compared to 7.3% of non-first-gen respondents.
Legacy students, or those with family who previously attended Tulane, reflect a more favorable view of Tulane than non-legacy students. Nearly 90% of legacy respondents expressed positive feelings, with 47.7% who are enthusiastic and 43.2% who like it.
Non-legacy students were slightly less enthusiastic with 38.5% and more likely to be neutral or negative.