LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech vs. NSU

Deciding between Louisiana Tech University and Northwestern State University of Louisiana? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Louisiana Tech University
Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Ruston, LA
  • NSU Natchitoches, LA
  • Setting
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Distant Town
  • NSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 11,873
  • NSU 8,523
  • Type
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech #641
  • NSU #928
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech
  • NSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $10,125
  • NSU $8,864
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $16,866
  • NSU $19,652
  • Room & Board
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $9,618
  • NSU $10,926
  • Average Net Price
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $12,325
  • NSU $13,134
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $12,149
  • NSU $12,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 95%
  • NSU 93%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 8,491
  • NSU 3,015
  • Admitted
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 7,336
  • NSU 2,790
  • Acceptance Rate
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 86.4%
  • NSU 92.5%
  • Enrolled
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 33.4%
  • NSU 37.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 1210
  • NSU 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 24
  • NSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 3.58
  • NSU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech A-
  • NSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Average
  • NSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 21/27
  • NSU 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 1100/1310
  • NSU 866/1163
  • Submit Test Scores
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Test optional
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech
  • NSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 21:1
  • NSU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • NSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 49%
  • NSU 37%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $48,600
  • NSU $38,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 58%
  • NSU 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $19,865
  • NSU $21,531
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $205
  • NSU $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 53%
  • NSU 30%
  • % Women
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 47%
  • NSU 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Low
  • NSU High
  • HBCU
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech No
  • NSU No
  • % White
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 68%
  • NSU 54%
  • % Asian
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 1%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 14%
  • NSU 31%
  • % Hispanic
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 4%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 0%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 3%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 3%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 7%
  • NSU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 80%
  • NSU 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 12%
  • NSU 1%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech No
  • NSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech No
  • NSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech No
  • NSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA with Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Louisiana Tech University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (11,873 students vs. 8,523 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Louisiana Tech University is located in Ruston, LA (Distant Town setting); Northwestern State University of Louisiana is in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting).
  • Louisiana Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Louisiana Tech University 21:1; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1.

LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech or NSU? 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 Tech University than NSU ($12,325 vs. $13,134).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Louisiana Tech University are 12% lower than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($9,618 vs. $10,926).
  • Louisiana Tech University is 14.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $1,261 more per year; $10,125.00 vs. $8,864.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.5% higher at NSU than at Louisiana Tech University (about $2,786 more per year; $19,652.00 vs. $16,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Louisiana Tech University than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (95% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana Tech University students is 0.4% larger than aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students ($12,149 vs. $12,098).

LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech or NSU? 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 NSU and LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Louisiana Tech University (1210) is 200 points higher than at NSU (1010).
  • Incoming LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana Tech University 1100/1310; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana Tech University 21/27; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at NSU (3.3).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech (86.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech vs. 37.4% at NSU.

LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech and NSU? 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).

  • Louisiana Tech University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana's (37%).
  • Graduates from Louisiana Tech University earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,600 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Louisiana Tech University graduates have a $1,666 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($19,865 vs. $21,531).
  • Among borrowers, LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($205 vs. $222).
  • More LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.