Lyon College vs. NSU

Comparable Facts

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

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than Lyon College based on total student enrollment (8,523 students vs. 659 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lyon College is located in Batesville, AR (Remote Town setting); Northwestern State University of Louisiana is in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting).
• Lyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lyon College 11:1; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1.

Lyon College vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lyon College 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 Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Lyon College ($13,134 vs. $19,872).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lyon College are 1.6% lower than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($10,750 vs. $10,926).
• Lyon College is 249.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $22,136 more per year; $31,000.00 vs. $8,864.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.7% higher at Lyon College than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (about $11,348 more per year; $31,000.00 vs. $19,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lyon College than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lyon College students is 107.7% larger than aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students ($25,132 vs. $12,098).

Lyon College vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lyon College 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 Lyon College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lyon College (1120) is 110 points higher than at NSU (1010).
• Incoming Lyon College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at NSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lyon College 1050/1195; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lyon College 21/26; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lyon College - Test-free; NSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Lyon College (3.0).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Lyon College (62.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at Lyon College vs. 37.4% at NSU.

Lyon College vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lyon College 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).

• Lyon College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana's (37%).
• Graduates from Lyon College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,900 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduates have a $3,469 lower median loan debt than Lyon College graduates ($21,531 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, NSU graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lyon College graduates ($222 vs. $258).
• More Lyon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.