McNeese vs. HBU

Deciding between McNeese State University and Houston Christian 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.

McNeese State University
Houston Christian University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • McNeese Lake Charles, LA
  • HBU Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • McNeese Small City
  • HBU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • McNeese 6,241
  • HBU 4,276
  • Type
  • McNeese Public 4 Year
  • HBU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • McNeese #894
  • HBU #837
  • Religious Affiliation
  • McNeese -
  • HBU Southern Baptist
  • Status
  • McNeese Non-profit
  • HBU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • McNeese
  • HBU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • McNeese $8,489
  • HBU $39,430
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • McNeese $9,989
  • HBU $39,430
  • Room & Board
  • McNeese $10,644
  • HBU $12,928
  • Average Net Price
  • McNeese $12,430
  • HBU $21,282
  • Average Grant Aid
  • McNeese $9,649
  • HBU $28,870
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • McNeese 88%
  • HBU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • McNeese 3,902
  • HBU 8,455
  • Admitted
  • McNeese 3,054
  • HBU 7,139
  • Acceptance Rate
  • McNeese 78.3%
  • HBU 84.4%
  • Enrolled
  • McNeese 38.2%
  • HBU 10.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • McNeese 1070
  • HBU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • McNeese 20
  • HBU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • McNeese 3.36
  • HBU 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • McNeese B+
  • HBU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • McNeese Very Easy
  • HBU Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • McNeese
  • HBU
  • ACT Range
  • McNeese 18/23
  • HBU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • McNeese 940/1198
  • HBU 990/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • McNeese Test optional
  • HBU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • McNeese
  • HBU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • McNeese 20:1
  • HBU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • McNeese
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering (5%)
  • HBU
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • McNeese 37%
  • HBU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • McNeese $44,000
  • HBU $51,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • McNeese 49%
  • HBU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • McNeese $20,238
  • HBU $24,166
  • Median Loan Payment
  • McNeese $209
  • HBU $249

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • McNeese 38%
  • HBU 36%
  • % Women
  • McNeese 62%
  • HBU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • McNeese Medium
  • HBU Very High
  • HBCU
  • McNeese No
  • HBU No
  • % White
  • McNeese 67%
  • HBU 27%
  • % Asian
  • McNeese 2%
  • HBU 10%
  • % Black
  • McNeese 18%
  • HBU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • McNeese 3%
  • HBU 30%
  • % Native American
  • McNeese 1%
  • HBU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • McNeese 0%
  • HBU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • McNeese 3%
  • HBU 5%
  • % International
  • McNeese 7%
  • HBU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • McNeese 0%
  • HBU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • McNeese 84%
  • HBU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • McNeese 7%
  • HBU 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • McNeese Yes
  • HBU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • McNeese No
  • HBU No
  • Meal Plan
  • McNeese Yes
  • HBU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • McNeese No
  • HBU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • McNeese No
  • HBU No

Comparable Facts

Compare McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA with Houston Christian University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McNeese State University is larger than HBU based on total student enrollment (6,241 students vs. 4,276 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • McNeese State University is located in Lake Charles, LA (Small City setting); Houston Christian University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • McNeese State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Houston Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: McNeese State University 20:1; Houston Christian University 18:1.

McNeese vs. HBU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McNeese or HBU? 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 McNeese State University than HBU ($12,430 vs. $21,282).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McNeese State University are 17.7% lower than at Houston Christian University ($10,644 vs. $12,928).
  • Houston Christian University is 364.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than McNeese (about $30,941 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $8,489.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 294.7% higher at HBU than at McNeese State University (about $29,441 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $9,989.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Christian University than at McNeese State University (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Christian University students is 199.2% larger than aid received by McNeese State University students ($28,870 vs. $9,649).

McNeese vs. HBU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McNeese or HBU? 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 HBU and McNeese.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Houston Christian University (1090) is 20 points higher than at McNeese (1070).
  • Incoming McNeese students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 20) as students at HBU (20).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: McNeese State University 940/1198; Houston Christian University 990/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: McNeese State University 18/23; Houston Christian University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McNeese - Test optional; HBU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman HBU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at McNeese (3.36).
  • HBU has a higher acceptance rate (84.4%) than McNeese (78.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.2% at McNeese vs. 10.5% at HBU.

McNeese vs. HBU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McNeese and HBU? 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).

  • Houston Christian University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than McNeese State University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Houston Christian University earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than McNeese graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $44,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, McNeese State University graduates have a $3,928 lower median loan debt than HBU graduates ($20,238 vs. $24,166).
  • Among borrowers, McNeese graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HBU graduates ($209 vs. $249).
  • More HBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McNeese students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 49%)

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.