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Texas Tech SHSU TAMUK A&M Commerce UNT Angelo State SFASU LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech Texas A&M West Texas A & M University MSU Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | Tarleton State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NSU | Tarleton | ||
| Location | Natchitoches, LA | Stephenville, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 9,389 | 14,092 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #975 | #871 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nsula.edu | tarleton.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NSU | Tarleton | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,180 | $4,416 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,968 | $14,208 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,269 | $10,328 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,238 | $13,755 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,499 | $8,463 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 89% | 79% |
Admission |
NSU | Tarleton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,903 | 5,788 | ||
| Admitted | 2,843 | 5,039 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97.9% | 87.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 35.9% | 48.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.21 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/23 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 955/1135 | 950/1150 | ||
| 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 | Tarleton | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NSU | Tarleton | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,100 | $45,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,531 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $204 |
Diversity |
NSU | Tarleton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 29% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 71% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 54% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 18% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
NSU | Tarleton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 97% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 3% | ||
Campus |
NSU | Tarleton | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Tarleton State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (14,092 students vs. 9,389 students)
NSU vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NSU or Tarleton?
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 17.3% more expensive to attend than Tarleton for in-state tuition ($5,180.00 vs. $4,416.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.4% higher at NSU than Tarleton State University ($15,968.00 vs. $14,208.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tarleton State University than NSU ($13,755 vs. $14,238)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 0.6% lower than costs at Tarleton State University ($10,269 vs. $10,328)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Tarleton State University (89% vs. 79%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 12.2% larger than aid received Tarleton State University ($9,499 vs. $8,463)
NSU vs. Tarleton Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NSU or Tarleton? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tarleton or NSU .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 49 points higher than at Tarleton (959)
- Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Tarleton (21)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Tarleton (3.21)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than Tarleton (87.1%)
NSU vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NSU or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton and NSU.
- The graduation rate at Tarleton is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (39% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Tarleton State University earn on average $7,400 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $38,100)
- Tarleton State University students graduate with a $1,781 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $21,531)
- Tarleton graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($204 vs. $222)
- More Tarleton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/