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LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech GS Georgia State University of West Georgia KSU LSUS VSU Clayton State University TROY Albany State University ULM UL Lafayette| Columbus State University | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
| Location | Columbus, GA | Natchitoches, LA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 7,479 | 9,389 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #995 | #975 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbusstate.edu | nsula.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,371 | $5,180 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,425 | $15,968 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,080 | $10,269 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,902 | $14,238 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,147 | $9,499 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 89% |
Admission |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,870 | 2,903 | ||
| Admitted | 3,398 | 2,843 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 97.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.4% | 35.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.07 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/23 | 18/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 900/1130 | 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 | Jun 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 31% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $38,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 37% | 46% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $21,531 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $222 |
Diversity |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 29% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 71% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 54% | ||
| % Black | 37% | 31% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 92% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 2% | ||
Campus |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than than Columbus State based on total student enrollment (9,389 students vs. 7,479 students)
Columbus State vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or NSU?
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 18.5% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($5,180.00 vs. $4,371.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.5% higher at NSU than Columbus State University ($15,968.00 vs. $15,425.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than NSU ($12,902 vs. $14,238)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 17.6% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($10,269 vs. $12,080)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (98% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 3.8% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($9,499 vs. $9,147)
Columbus State vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or Columbus State .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 47 points higher than at Columbus State (961)
- Incoming NSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Columbus State (20)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than Columbus State (87.8%)
Columbus State vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbus State 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 Columbus State.
- The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Columbus State University (37% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn on average $700 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $37,400)
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana students graduate with a $4,469 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($21,531 vs. $26,000)
- NSU graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
- More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 37%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/