NSU vs. UHCL

Comparable Facts

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

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than UHCL based on total student enrollment (8,523 students vs. 8,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is located in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting); University of Houston Clear Lake is in Houston, TX (Large Suburban setting).
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana 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: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1; University of Houston Clear Lake 15:1.

NSU vs. UHCL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU 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 Northwestern State University of Louisiana than UHCL ($13,134 vs. $14,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 13.6% lower than at University of Houston Clear Lake ($10,926 vs. $12,642).
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 14.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UHCL (about $1,094 more per year; $8,864.00 vs. $7,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at UHCL than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (about $1,462 more per year; $21,114.00 vs. $19,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than at University of Houston Clear Lake (93% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 4.4% larger than aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students ($12,630 vs. $12,098).

NSU vs. UHCL Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU or UHCL? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UHCL and NSU.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Houston Clear Lake (1060) is 50 points higher than at NSU (1010).
• Incoming UHCL students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (22 vs. 21 at NSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163; University of Houston Clear Lake 970/1150.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24; University of Houston Clear Lake 20/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; UHCL - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UHCL Jun 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UHCL students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at NSU (3.3).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than UHCL (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at NSU vs. 22.2% at UHCL.

NSU vs. UHCL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and UHCL? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Northwestern State University of Louisiana's six-year graduation rate is 37%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for UHCL.
• Graduates from University of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston Clear Lake graduates have a $4,381 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($17,150 vs. $21,531).
• Among borrowers, UHCL graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($177 vs. $222).
• More UHCL 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.