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Lamar University University of Houston-Downtown SFASU Tarleton Texas State UNT LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech TAMUK Texas A&M UH A&M Commerce UTSA| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | Sam Houston State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NSU | SHSU | ||
| Location | Natchitoches, LA | Huntsville, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 9,389 | 21,480 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #975 | #778 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nsula.edu | shsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NSU | SHSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,180 | $5,856 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,968 | $15,648 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,269 | $10,908 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,238 | $13,632 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,499 | $10,499 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 89% | 73% |
Admission |
NSU | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,903 | 16,316 | ||
| Admitted | 2,843 | 13,809 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97.9% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 35.9% | 24.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.25 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/23 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 955/1135 | 960/1140 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
NSU | SHSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NSU | SHSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,100 | $47,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,531 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $222 |
Diversity |
NSU | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 29% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 71% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 54% | 53% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 20% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
NSU | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 1% | ||
Campus |
NSU | SHSU | ||
| 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
- Sam Houston State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 9,389 students)
NSU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NSU or SHSU?
- Sam Houston State University is 13.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($5,856.00 vs. $5,180.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2% higher at NSU than Sam Houston State University ($15,968.00 vs. $15,648.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sam Houston State University than NSU ($13,632 vs. $14,238)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 6.2% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($10,269 vs. $10,908)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Sam Houston State University (89% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 10.5% larger than aid received Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($10,499 vs. $9,499)
NSU vs. SHSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NSU or SHSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SHSU or NSU .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 11 points higher than at SHSU (997)
- Incoming NSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at SHSU (22)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at SHSU (3.25)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than SHSU (84.6%)
NSU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NSU or SHSU? 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 SHSU and NSU.
- The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (50% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $9,700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $38,100)
- Sam Houston State University students graduate with a $31 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $21,531)
- Sam Houston State University and NSU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($222 vs. $222)
- More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/