LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech vs. SU

Deciding between Louisiana Tech University and Southwestern University? 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
Southwestern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Ruston, LA
  • SU Georgetown, TX
  • Setting
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Distant Town
  • SU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 11,873
  • SU 1,440
  • Type
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Public 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech #641
  • SU #196
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech -
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech
  • SU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $10,125
  • SU $53,813
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $16,866
  • SU $53,813
  • Room & Board
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $9,618
  • SU $15,072
  • Average Net Price
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $12,325
  • SU $32,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $12,149
  • SU $35,162
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 95%
  • SU 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 8,491
  • SU 6,313
  • Admitted
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 7,336
  • SU 2,718
  • Acceptance Rate
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 86.4%
  • SU 43.1%
  • Enrolled
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 33.4%
  • SU 13.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 1210
  • SU 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 24
  • SU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 3.58
  • SU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech A-
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Average
  • SU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech
  • SU Low
  • ACT Range
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 21/27
  • SU 26/30
  • SAT Range
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 1100/1310
  • SU 1130/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Test optional
  • SU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech
  • SU Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 21:1
  • SU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • SU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 49%
  • SU 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $48,600
  • SU $57,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 58%
  • SU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $19,865
  • SU $26,893
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech $205
  • SU $278
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 53%
  • SU 45%
  • % Women
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 47%
  • SU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Low
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 68%
  • SU 62%
  • % Asian
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 1%
  • SU 4%
  • % Black
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 14%
  • SU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 4%
  • SU 22%
  • % Native American
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 3%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 3%
  • SU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 7%
  • SU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 80%
  • SU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech 12%
  • SU 9%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA with Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Louisiana Tech University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (11,873 students vs. 1,440 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Louisiana Tech University is located in Ruston, LA (Distant Town setting); Southwestern University is in Georgetown, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Louisiana Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Louisiana Tech University 21:1; Southwestern University 11:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech or SU? 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 SU ($12,325 vs. $32,228).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Louisiana Tech University are 36.2% lower than at Southwestern University ($9,618 vs. $15,072).
  • Southwestern University is 431.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech (about $43,688 more per year; $53,813.00 vs. $10,125.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 219.1% higher at SU than at Louisiana Tech University (about $36,947 more per year; $53,813.00 vs. $16,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern University than at Louisiana Tech University (99% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 189.4% larger than aid received by Louisiana Tech University students ($35,162 vs. $12,149).

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

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southwestern University (1220) is 10 points higher than at LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech (1210).
  • Incoming SU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana Tech University 1100/1310; Southwestern University 1130/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana Tech University 21/27; Southwestern University 26/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech - Test optional; SU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at SU (3.5).
  • LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech has a higher acceptance rate (86.4%) than SU (43.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech vs. 13.8% at SU.

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

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

  • Southwestern University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Louisiana Tech University's (49%).
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,400 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Louisiana Tech University graduates have a $7,028 lower median loan debt than SU graduates ($19,865 vs. $26,893).
  • Among borrowers, LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SU graduates ($205 vs. $278).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 58%)

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.