When Louisiana State University opened on January 2, 1860 in Pineville, Louisiana, applicants had to be between the ages of 15 and 21, and had to be able to read, write, and be familiar with the basic rules of arithmetic.

At that time the name of the school was the Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana and then several months later the name was changed to the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy. William Tecumseh Sherman was the first superintendent. In 1870 the name was changed to LSU.

Source: "Under Stately Oaks: A Pictorial History of LSU" by Thomas F. Ruffin, Jo Jackson, Mary J. Hebert