LSUA vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Louisiana State University Alexandria in Alexandria, LA with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than LSUA based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 6,815 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Louisiana State University Alexandria is located in Alexandria, LA (Rural Fringe setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Louisiana State University Alexandria is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Louisiana State University Alexandria 33:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

LSUA vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LSUA or Coastal Carolina? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Louisiana State University Alexandria than Coastal Carolina ($8,296 vs. $14,379).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Louisiana State University Alexandria are 21% lower than at Coastal Carolina University ($9,598 vs. $12,146).
• Coastal Carolina University is 65.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than LSUA (about $4,590 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $7,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 102.2% higher at Coastal Carolina than at Louisiana State University Alexandria (about $14,978 more per year; $29,628.00 vs. $14,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Coastal Carolina University than at Louisiana State University Alexandria (94% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Coastal Carolina University students is 33.4% larger than aid received by Louisiana State University Alexandria students ($10,087 vs. $7,561).

LSUA vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LSUA or Coastal Carolina? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Coastal Carolina and LSUA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Coastal Carolina University (1140) is 40 points higher than at LSUA (1100).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 19 at LSUA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana State University Alexandria 970/1220; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana State University Alexandria 17/22; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LSUA - Required; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at LSUA (3.16).
• LSUA has a higher acceptance rate (92.1%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 66.6% at LSUA vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

LSUA vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LSUA and Coastal Carolina? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Coastal Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Louisiana State University Alexandria's (12%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than LSUA graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Louisiana State University Alexandria graduates have a $7,223 lower median loan debt than Coastal Carolina graduates ($17,707 vs. $24,930).
• Among borrowers, LSUA graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Coastal Carolina graduates ($183 vs. $257).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSUA students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.