LSUA vs. NSU

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

 LSUA NSU
Location Alexandria, LA Natchitoches, LA
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 4,289 9,389
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #950 #975
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lsua.edu nsula.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 LSUA NSU
Tuition (In State) $4,950 $5,180
Tuition (Out of State) $5,120 $15,968
Room & Board $9,598 $10,269
Avg Net Price $7,274 $14,238
Avg Grant Aid $7,033 $9,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 89%

Admission

 LSUA NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,913 2,903
Admitted 1,680 2,843
Acceptance Rate 57.7% 97.9%
Enrolled % 24.6% 35.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/22 18/23
SAT Range 910/1110 955/1135
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 LSUA NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

 LSUA NSU
Graduation Rate 12% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,700 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,707 $21,531
Median Loan Payment $183 $222

Diversity

 LSUA NSU
% Men 30% 29%
% Women 70% 71%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 54%
% Black 18% 31%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 4% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 LSUA NSU
% In-State 85% 98%
% Out-of-State 10% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than than LSUA based on total student enrollment (9,389 students vs. 4,289 students)

LSUA vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LSUA or NSU?

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 4.6% more expensive to attend than LSUA for in-state tuition ($5,180.00 vs. $4,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 211.9% higher at NSU than Louisiana State University Alexandria ($15,968.00 vs. $5,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Louisiana State University Alexandria than NSU ($7,274 vs. $14,238)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Louisiana State University Alexandria are 7% lower than costs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($9,598 vs. $10,269)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Louisiana State University Alexandria than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (95% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 35.1% larger than aid received Louisiana State University Alexandria ($9,499 vs. $7,033)

LSUA vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 58 points higher than at LSUA (950)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at LSUA (20)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at LSUA (3.16)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than LSUA (57.7%)

LSUA vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, LSUA 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 LSUA.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Louisiana State University Alexandria (37% vs. 12%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn on average $2,400 more per year than LSUA graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $35,700)
  • Louisiana State University Alexandria students graduate with a $3,824 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($17,707 vs. $21,531)
  • LSUA graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($183 vs. $222)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSUA students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 46%)

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