CSU-Pueblo vs. NSU

Should I go to Colorado State University Pueblo or Northwestern State University of Louisiana? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU-Pueblo or NSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Colorado State University Pueblo vs. Northwestern State University of Louisiana comparison
Colorado State University Pueblo Northwestern State University of Louisiana College 3 College 4
Colorado State University Pueblo Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

CSU-Pueblo NSU
Location Pueblo, CO Natchitoches, LA
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 6,617 9,389
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #909 #975
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colostate-pueblo.edu nsula.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU-Pueblo NSU
Tuition (In State) $6,670 $5,180
Tuition (Out of State) $13,749 $15,968
Room & Board $11,220 $10,269
Avg Net Price $13,033 $14,238
Avg Grant Aid $10,649 $9,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 89%

Admission

CSU-Pueblo NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,572 2,903
Admitted 1,553 2,843
Acceptance Rate 98.8% 97.9%
Enrolled % 40.8% 35.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/25 18/23
SAT Range 900/1150 955/1135
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

CSU-Pueblo NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

CSU-Pueblo NSU
Graduation Rate 32% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,000 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $21,531
Median Loan Payment $204 $222

Diversity

CSU-Pueblo NSU
% Men 40% 29%
% Women 60% 71%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 54%
% Black 7% 31%
% Hispanic 32% 5%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

CSU-Pueblo NSU
% In-State 85% 98%
% Out-of-State 14% 2%

Campus

CSU-Pueblo NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than than CSU-Pueblo based on total student enrollment (9,389 students vs. 6,617 students)

CSU-Pueblo vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU-Pueblo or NSU?

  • Colorado State University Pueblo is 28.8% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($6,670.00 vs. $5,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.1% higher at NSU than Colorado State University Pueblo ($15,968.00 vs. $13,749.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado State University Pueblo than NSU ($13,033 vs. $14,238)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 9.3% lower than costs at Colorado State University Pueblo ($10,269 vs. $11,220)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colorado State University Pueblo than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (97% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Pueblo students is 12.1% larger than aid received Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($10,649 vs. $9,499)

CSU-Pueblo vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU-Pueblo or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or CSU-Pueblo .

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 38 points higher than at CSU-Pueblo (970)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at CSU-Pueblo (21)
  • Accepted freshman CSU-Pueblo students have at the same average high school GPA (3.3) as students at NSU (3.3)
  • CSU-Pueblo has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than NSU (97.9%)

CSU-Pueblo vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU-Pueblo or NSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NSU and CSU-Pueblo.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Colorado State University Pueblo (37% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Colorado State University Pueblo earn on average $900 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $38,100)
  • Colorado State University Pueblo students graduate with a $1,781 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $21,531)
  • CSU-Pueblo graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($204 vs. $222)
  • More CSU-Pueblo graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/