Nicholls State University vs. UHCL

Deciding between Nicholls State University and University of Houston Clear Lake? 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.

Nicholls State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA
  • UHCL Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Nicholls State University Small City
  • UHCL Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Nicholls State University 6,043
  • UHCL 8,137
  • Type
  • Nicholls State University Public 4 Year
  • UHCL Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Nicholls State University #898
  • UHCL
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Nicholls State University -
  • UHCL -
  • Status
  • Nicholls State University Non-profit
  • UHCL Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Nicholls State University
  • UHCL
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Nicholls State University $8,149
  • UHCL $7,770
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Nicholls State University $9,242
  • UHCL $21,114
  • Room & Board
  • Nicholls State University $11,412
  • UHCL $12,642
  • Average Net Price
  • Nicholls State University $12,298
  • UHCL $14,059
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Nicholls State University $10,392
  • UHCL $12,630
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Nicholls State University 89%
  • UHCL 76%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Nicholls State University 3,369
  • UHCL 2,352
  • Admitted
  • Nicholls State University 3,059
  • UHCL 2,129
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Nicholls State University 90.8%
  • UHCL 90.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Nicholls State University 35.4%
  • UHCL 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Nicholls State University 1070
  • UHCL 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • Nicholls State University 21
  • UHCL 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Nicholls State University 3.34
  • UHCL 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Nicholls State University B+
  • UHCL B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Nicholls State University Easy
  • UHCL Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Nicholls State University
  • UHCL
  • ACT Range
  • Nicholls State University 19/24
  • UHCL 20/25
  • SAT Range
  • Nicholls State University 934/1196
  • UHCL 970/1150
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Nicholls State University Required
  • UHCL Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Nicholls State University
  • UHCL Jun 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Nicholls State University 19:1
  • UHCL 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Nicholls State University
    • Business (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (19%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (7%)
  • UHCL
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Nicholls State University 38%
  • UHCL -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Nicholls State University $42,600
  • UHCL $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Nicholls State University 51%
  • UHCL 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Nicholls State University $19,848
  • UHCL $17,150
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Nicholls State University $205
  • UHCL $177
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Nicholls State University 37%
  • UHCL 38%
  • % Women
  • Nicholls State University 63%
  • UHCL 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Nicholls State University Medium
  • UHCL High
  • HBCU
  • Nicholls State University No
  • UHCL No
  • % White
  • Nicholls State University 68%
  • UHCL 43%
  • % Asian
  • Nicholls State University 1%
  • UHCL 6%
  • % Black
  • Nicholls State University 20%
  • UHCL 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Nicholls State University 3%
  • UHCL 36%
  • % Native American
  • Nicholls State University 2%
  • UHCL 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Nicholls State University 0%
  • UHCL 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Nicholls State University 3%
  • UHCL 3%
  • % International
  • Nicholls State University 2%
  • UHCL 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Nicholls State University 1%
  • UHCL 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Nicholls State University 92%
  • UHCL 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Nicholls State University 5%
  • UHCL 1%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Nicholls State University Yes
  • UHCL Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Nicholls State University No
  • UHCL
  • Meal Plan
  • Nicholls State University Yes
  • UHCL Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Nicholls State University Yes
  • UHCL No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Nicholls State University No
  • UHCL

Comparable Facts

Compare Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA with University of Houston Clear Lake in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Houston Clear Lake is larger than Nicholls State University based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 6,043 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Nicholls State University is located in Thibodaux, LA (Small City setting); University of Houston Clear Lake is in Houston, TX (Large Suburban setting).
  • Nicholls State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston Clear Lake is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Nicholls State University 19:1; University of Houston Clear Lake 15:1.

Nicholls State University vs. UHCL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nicholls State University or UHCL? 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 Nicholls State University than UHCL ($12,298 vs. $14,059).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nicholls State University are 9.7% lower than at University of Houston Clear Lake ($11,412 vs. $12,642).
  • Nicholls State University is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UHCL (about $379 more per year; $8,149.00 vs. $7,770.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 128.5% higher at UHCL than at Nicholls State University (about $11,872 more per year; $21,114.00 vs. $9,242.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nicholls State University than at University of Houston Clear Lake (89% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 21.5% larger than aid received by Nicholls State University students ($12,630 vs. $10,392).

Nicholls State University vs. UHCL Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nicholls State University or UHCL? 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 UHCL and Nicholls State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Nicholls State University (1070) is 10 points higher than at UHCL (1060).
  • Incoming UHCL students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Nicholls State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nicholls State University 934/1196; University of Houston Clear Lake 970/1150.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nicholls State University 19/24; University of Houston Clear Lake 20/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nicholls State University - Required; UHCL - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UHCL Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UHCL students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Nicholls State University (3.34).
  • Nicholls State University has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than UHCL (90.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.4% at Nicholls State University vs. 22.2% at UHCL.

Nicholls State University vs. UHCL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nicholls State University and UHCL? 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).

  • Graduates from University of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than Nicholls State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston Clear Lake graduates have a $2,698 lower median loan debt than Nicholls State University graduates ($17,150 vs. $19,848).
  • Among borrowers, UHCL graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nicholls State University graduates ($177 vs. $205).
  • More UHCL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nicholls State University students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 51%)

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.