NSU vs. Southeastern

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA with Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southeastern Louisiana University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (14,426 students vs. 8,523 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is located in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting); Southeastern Louisiana University is in Hammond, LA (Distant Town setting).
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southeastern Louisiana University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1; Southeastern Louisiana University 20:1.

NSU vs. Southeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or Southeastern? 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 Southeastern Louisiana University than NSU ($13,116 vs. $13,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southeastern Louisiana University are 6.3% lower than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($10,240 vs. $10,926).
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southeastern (about $491 more per year; $8,864.00 vs. $8,373.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.1% higher at Southeastern than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (about $1,199 more per year; $20,851.00 vs. $19,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeastern Louisiana University than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (97% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 18% larger than aid received by Southeastern Louisiana University students ($12,098 vs. $10,253).

NSU vs. Southeastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU or Southeastern? 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 Southeastern and NSU.

• Incoming NSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at Southeastern (21).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24; Southeastern Louisiana University 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; Southeastern - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Southeastern Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Southeastern students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at NSU (3.3).
• Southeastern has a higher acceptance rate (99.3%) than NSU (92.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at NSU vs. 38.8% at Southeastern.

NSU vs. Southeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and Southeastern? 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).

• Northwestern State University of Louisiana's six-year graduation rate (37%) is higher than Southeastern Louisiana University's (33%).
• Graduates from Southeastern Louisiana University earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southeastern Louisiana University graduates have a $259 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($21,272 vs. $21,531).
• Among borrowers, Southeastern graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($219 vs. $222).
• More Southeastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 46%)

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.