Henderson State University vs. NSU

Should I go to Henderson State University or Northeastern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University 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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Henderson State University vs. Northeastern State University comparison
Henderson State University Northeastern State University College 3 College 4
Henderson State University Northeastern State University
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Overview

Henderson State University NSU
Location Arkadelphia, AR Tahlequah, OK
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,519 6,702
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #933
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu nsuok.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $6,285
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $15,270
Room & Board $9,558 $8,292
Avg Net Price $17,656 $9,669
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $8,528
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 96%

Admission

Henderson State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 1,674
Admitted 1,657 1,665
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 99.5%
Enrolled % 24.9% 42.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.49
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 17/23
SAT Range 903/1073 875/1130
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University NSU
Graduation Rate 31% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $18,000
Median Loan Payment $201 $186

Diversity

Henderson State University NSU
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 50%
% Black 24% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 19%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 17%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Henderson State University NSU
% In-State 81% 91%
% Out-of-State 19% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern State University is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (6,702 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or NSU?

  • Northeastern State University is 6.9% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($6,285.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 88.8% higher at NSU than Henderson State University ($15,270.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern State University than Henderson State University ($9,669 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern State University are 15.3% lower than costs at Henderson State University ($8,292 vs. $9,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northeastern State University than Henderson State University (96% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 12.3% larger than aid received Northeastern State University ($9,580 vs. $8,528)

Henderson State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Henderson State University (988) is the same at NSU (988)
  • Incoming Henderson State University students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at NSU (21)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Henderson State University (70.7%)

Henderson State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University 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 Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Henderson State University is higher than Northeastern State University (31% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Northeastern State University earn on average $1,800 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $38,400)
  • Northeastern State University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Henderson State University graduates. ($18,000 vs. $19,500)
  • NSU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Henderson State University graduates. ($186 vs. $201)
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 48%)

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