NSU vs. NCAT

Should I go to Northwestern State University of Louisiana or North Carolina A & T State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NSU or NCAT 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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Northwestern State University of Louisiana vs. North Carolina A & T State University comparison
Northwestern State University of Louisiana North Carolina A & T State University College 3 College 4
Northwestern State University of Louisiana North Carolina A & T State University
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Overview

NSU NCAT
Location Natchitoches, LA Greensboro, NC
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 8,847 13,885
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #869 #950
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nsula.edu ncat.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NSU NCAT
Tuition (In State) $5,180 $3,540
Tuition (Out of State) $15,968 $17,200
Room & Board $10,617 $8,832
Avg Net Price $13,156 $10,258
Avg Grant Aid $11,220 $10,700
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 89%

Admission

NSU NCAT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,194 30,717
Admitted 2,994 14,183
Acceptance Rate 93.7% 46.2%
Enrolled % 34.5% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 16/22
SAT Range 925/1243 960/1190
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 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

NSU NCAT
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering Technology (6%)

Outcomes

NSU NCAT
Graduation Rate 37% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,100 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,531 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $299

Diversity

NSU NCAT
% Men 2% 5%
% Women 8% 7%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 54% 5%
% Black 31% 84%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

NSU NCAT
% In-State 98% 67%
% Out-of-State 2% 32%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina A & T State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 8,847 students)

NSU vs. NCAT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or NCAT?

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 46.3% more expensive to attend than NCAT for in-state tuition ($5,180.00 vs. $3,540.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.7% higher at NCAT than Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($17,200.00 vs. $15,968.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina A & T State University than NSU ($10,258 vs. $13,156)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina A & T State University are 20.2% lower than costs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($8,832 vs. $10,617)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than North Carolina A & T State University (94% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 4.9% larger than aid received North Carolina A & T State University ($11,220 vs. $10,700)

NSU vs. NCAT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 98 points higher than at NCAT (910)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NCAT (19)
  • Accepted freshman NCAT students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at NSU (3.3)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than NCAT (46.2%)

NSU vs. NCAT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NSU or NCAT? 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 NCAT and NSU.

  • The graduation rate at NCAT is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (41% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana and NCAT have equivalent average earnings after ten years ($38,100 vs. $38,100)
  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana students graduate with a $7,469 lower median federal student loan debt than NCAT graduates. ($21,531 vs. $29,000)
  • NSU graduates are paying $77 less per month on federal student loans than NCAT graduates. ($222 vs. $299)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCAT students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 27%)

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