McPherson College vs. NSU

Should I go to McPherson College or Northeastern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if McPherson College or NSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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McPherson College vs. Northeastern State University comparison
McPherson College Northeastern State University College 3 College 4
Northeastern State University
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Overview

 McPherson College NSU
Location McPherson, KS Tahlequah, OK
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 788 6,466
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #929
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcpherson.edu nsuok.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 McPherson College NSU
Tuition (In State) $34,072 $6,623
Tuition (Out of State) $34,072 $15,743
Room & Board $10,322 $10,494
Avg Net Price $25,490 $11,153
Avg Grant Aid $22,929 $7,886
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 83%

Admission

 McPherson College NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,209 1,386
Admitted 1,013 1,375
Acceptance Rate 83.8% 99.2%
Enrolled % 23.8% 48.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.49
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 18/23
SAT Range 936/1126 920/1145
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 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 McPherson College NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 McPherson College NSU
Graduation Rate 46% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $18,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $186

Diversity

 McPherson College NSU
% Men 0% 6%
% Women 0% 17%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 50%
% Black 10% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 1% 19%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 17%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 McPherson College NSU
% In-State 27% 93%
% Out-of-State 69% 5%

Campus

 McPherson College NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern State University is larger than than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (6,466 students vs. 788 students)

McPherson College vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or NSU?

  • McPherson College is 414.4% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($34,072.00 vs. $6,623.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116.4% higher at McPherson College than Northeastern State University ($34,072.00 vs. $15,743.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern State University than McPherson College ($11,153 vs. $25,490)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McPherson College are 1.7% lower than costs at Northeastern State University ($10,322 vs. $10,494)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College than Northeastern State University (100% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 190.8% larger than aid received Northeastern State University ($22,929 vs. $7,886)

McPherson College vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McPherson College or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or McPherson College .

  • The average SAT score at Northeastern State University (988) is 48 points higher than at McPherson College (940)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at McPherson College (20)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than McPherson College (83.8%)

McPherson College vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McPherson College 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 McPherson College.

  • The graduation rate at McPherson College is higher than Northeastern State University (46% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $4,000 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $40,200)
  • Northeastern State University students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than McPherson College graduates. ($18,000 vs. $26,000)
  • NSU graduates are paying $82 less per month on federal student loans than McPherson College graduates. ($186 vs. $268)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/