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Alabama UL Lafayette Florida State Tulane LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech UH Texas A&M Auburn Michigan State OU Ole Miss UNO| Louisiana State University | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
LSU | NSU | ||
| Location | Baton Rouge, LA | Natchitoches, LA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 39,418 | 8,847 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #287 | #869 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lsu.edu | nsula.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
LSU | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,038 | $5,180 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,038 | $15,968 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,296 | $10,617 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,808 | $13,156 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,509 | $11,220 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 94% |
Admission |
LSU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 42,558 | 3,194 | ||
| Admitted | 31,491 | 2,994 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 93.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.9% | 34.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.77 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1330 | 925/1243 | ||
| 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 | Jul 15, 2026 |
Academics |
LSU | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
LSU | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $38,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 46% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,900 | $21,531 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $222 |
Diversity |
LSU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 54% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 31% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
LSU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 2% | ||
Campus |
LSU | 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
- Louisiana State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (39,418 students vs. 8,847 students)
LSU vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, LSU or NSU?
- Louisiana State University is 55.2% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,038.00 vs. $5,180.00)
- Out of state tuition is 98.7% higher at NSU than Louisiana State University ($15,968.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than LSU ($13,156 vs. $21,808)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 34.7% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($10,617 vs. $14,296)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Louisiana State University (94% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 20.4% larger than aid received Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($13,509 vs. $11,220)
LSU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, LSU or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or LSU .
- The average SAT score at Louisiana State University (1163) is 155 points higher than at NSU (1008)
- Incoming LSU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NSU (22)
- Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at NSU (3.3)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than LSU (74%)
LSU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, LSU 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 LSU.
- The graduation rate at LSU is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (60% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Louisiana State University earn on average $18,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $38,100)
- Louisiana State University students graduate with a $631 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($20,900 vs. $21,531)
- LSU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($216 vs. $222)
- More LSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/