Henderson State University vs. NSU

Should I go to Henderson State University or Northwestern State University of Louisiana? 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. Northwestern State University of Louisiana comparison
Henderson State University Northwestern State University of Louisiana College 3 College 4
Henderson State University Northwestern State University of Louisiana
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Overview

Henderson State University NSU
Location Arkadelphia, AR Natchitoches, LA
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,519 9,389
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #975
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu nsula.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $5,180
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $15,968
Room & Board $9,558 $10,269
Avg Net Price $17,656 $14,238
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $9,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 89%

Admission

Henderson State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 2,903
Admitted 1,657 2,843
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 97.9%
Enrolled % 24.9% 35.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 18/23
SAT Range 903/1073 955/1135
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%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University NSU
Graduation Rate 31% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $21,531
Median Loan Payment $201 $222

Diversity

Henderson State University NSU
% Men 40% 29%
% Women 60% 71%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 54%
% Black 24% 31%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Henderson State University NSU
% In-State 81% 98%
% Out-of-State 19% 2%

Campus

Henderson State University 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 Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (9,389 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Henderson State University is 13.5% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($5,880.00 vs. $5,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 97.4% higher at NSU than Henderson State University ($15,968.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Henderson State University ($14,238 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 7.4% lower than costs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($9,558 vs. $10,269)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Henderson State University than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (90% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 0.9% larger than aid received Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($9,580 vs. $9,499)

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 Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 20 points higher than at Henderson State University (988)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Henderson State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) 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 NSU is higher than Henderson State University (37% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Henderson State University earn on average $300 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $38,100)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $2,031 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $21,531)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($201 vs. $222)
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)

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