EIU vs. NSU

Should I go to Eastern Illinois University or Northwestern State University of Louisiana? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if EIU 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.
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Eastern Illinois University vs. Northwestern State University of Louisiana comparison
Eastern Illinois University Northwestern State University of Louisiana College 3 College 4
Eastern Illinois University Northwestern State University of Louisiana
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Overview

 EIU NSU
Location Charleston, IL Natchitoches, LA
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 8,857 9,389
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #672 #975
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu nsula.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 EIU NSU
Tuition (In State) $9,709 $5,180
Tuition (Out of State) $12,136 $15,968
Room & Board $10,812 $10,269
Avg Net Price $13,380 $14,238
Avg Grant Aid $11,773 $9,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 89%

Admission

 EIU NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,584 2,903
Admitted 7,873 2,843
Acceptance Rate 68% 97.9%
Enrolled % 11.1% 35.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 900/1120 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

Academics

 EIU NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

 EIU NSU
Graduation Rate 59% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $21,531
Median Loan Payment $244 $222

Diversity

 EIU NSU
% Men 42% 29%
% Women 58% 71%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 54%
% Black 19% 31%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 EIU NSU
% In-State 91% 98%
% Out-of-State 7% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than than EIU based on total student enrollment (9,389 students vs. 8,857 students)

EIU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or NSU?

  • Eastern Illinois University is 87.4% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($9,709.00 vs. $5,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.6% higher at NSU than Eastern Illinois University ($15,968.00 vs. $12,136.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Illinois University than NSU ($13,380 vs. $14,238)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 5.3% lower than costs at Eastern Illinois University ($10,269 vs. $10,812)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 23.9% larger than aid received Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($11,773 vs. $9,499)

EIU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Illinois University (1010) is 2 points higher than at NSU (1008)
  • Incoming EIU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at NSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at NSU (3.3)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than EIU (68%)

EIU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, EIU 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 EIU.

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (59% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn on average $5,400 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($43,500 vs. $38,100)
  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana students graduate with a $2,119 lower median federal student loan debt than EIU graduates. ($21,531 vs. $23,650)
  • NSU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than EIU graduates. ($222 vs. $244)
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 46%)

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