ATU vs. NSU

Deciding between Arkansas Tech University and Northeastern State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arkansas Tech University
Northeastern State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATU Russellville, AR
  • NSU Tahlequah, OK
  • Setting
  • ATU Remote Town
  • NSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ATU 8,746
  • NSU 6,751
  • Type
  • ATU Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATU #960
  • NSU #1039
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATU -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • ATU Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATU
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATU $8,674
  • NSU $7,810
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATU $14,668
  • NSU $17,290
  • Room & Board
  • ATU $10,338
  • NSU $11,120
  • Average Net Price
  • ATU $12,626
  • NSU $12,410
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATU $9,901
  • NSU $8,893
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATU 93%
  • NSU 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATU 3,654
  • NSU 1,727
  • Admitted
  • ATU 3,504
  • NSU 1,720
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATU 95.9%
  • NSU 99.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ATU 33.6%
  • NSU 39%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATU 990
  • NSU 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATU 20
  • NSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATU 3.37
  • NSU 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATU B+
  • NSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATU Extremely Easy
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATU
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • ATU 17/23
  • NSU 18/23
  • SAT Range
  • ATU 880/1100
  • NSU 866/1136
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATU Required
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ATU
  • NSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATU 17:1
  • NSU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATU
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • NSU
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATU 43%
  • NSU 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATU $37,100
  • NSU $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATU 51%
  • NSU 48%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATU $17,750
  • NSU $18,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATU $183
  • NSU $186

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATU 42%
  • NSU 35%
  • % Women
  • ATU 58%
  • NSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATU Low
  • NSU High
  • HBCU
  • ATU No
  • NSU No
  • % White
  • ATU 76%
  • NSU 50%
  • % Asian
  • ATU 1%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Black
  • ATU 10%
  • NSU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATU 6%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • ATU 1%
  • NSU 19%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATU 3%
  • NSU 17%
  • % International
  • ATU 4%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATU 0%
  • NSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATU 94%
  • NSU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATU 5%
  • NSU 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ATU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ATU No
  • NSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ATU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ATU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ATU No
  • NSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR with Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arkansas Tech University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (8,746 students vs. 6,751 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); Northeastern State University is in Tahlequah, OK (Remote Town setting).
  • Arkansas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; Northeastern State University 16:1.

ATU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or NSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern State University than ATU ($12,410 vs. $12,626).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arkansas Tech University are 7% lower than at Northeastern State University ($10,338 vs. $11,120).
  • Arkansas Tech University is 11.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $864 more per year; $8,674.00 vs. $7,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.9% higher at NSU than at Arkansas Tech University (about $2,622 more per year; $17,290.00 vs. $14,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arkansas Tech University than at Northeastern State University (93% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arkansas Tech University students is 11.3% larger than aid received by Northeastern State University students ($9,901 vs. $8,893).

ATU vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and ATU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern State University (1000) is 10 points higher than at ATU (990).
  • Incoming ATU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 20) as students at NSU (20).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100; Northeastern State University 866/1136.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23; Northeastern State University 18/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; NSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at ATU (3.37).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than ATU (95.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 39% at NSU.

ATU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU and NSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Arkansas Tech University's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than Northeastern State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern State University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than ATU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($17,750 vs. $18,000).
  • Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($183 vs. $186).
  • More ATU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.