NSU vs. UNT

Deciding between Northwestern State University of Louisiana and University of North Texas? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana
University of North Texas

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Natchitoches, LA
  • UNT Denton, TX
  • Setting
  • NSU Remote Town
  • UNT Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 8,523
  • UNT 46,864
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • UNT Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #928
  • UNT #671
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • UNT -
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • UNT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • UNT
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $8,864
  • UNT $11,309
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $19,652
  • UNT $21,149
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $10,926
  • UNT $11,194
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $13,134
  • UNT $15,965
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $12,098
  • UNT $10,408
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 93%
  • UNT 84%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 3,015
  • UNT 38,477
  • Admitted
  • NSU 2,790
  • UNT 27,793
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 92.5%
  • UNT 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 37.4%
  • UNT 24.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 1010
  • UNT 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 21
  • UNT 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 3.3
  • UNT 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B+
  • UNT B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Very Easy
  • UNT Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • UNT Low
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 18/24
  • UNT 19/27
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 866/1163
  • UNT 980/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • UNT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU
  • UNT Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 16:1
  • UNT 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • UNT
    • Business (21%)
    • General Studies (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NSU 37%
  • UNT 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NSU $38,100
  • UNT $47,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NSU 46%
  • UNT 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NSU $21,531
  • UNT $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NSU $222
  • UNT $206
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 30%
  • UNT 46%
  • % Women
  • NSU 70%
  • UNT 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU High
  • UNT Very High
  • HBCU
  • NSU No
  • UNT No
  • % White
  • NSU 54%
  • UNT 47%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 1%
  • UNT 6%
  • % Black
  • NSU 31%
  • UNT 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 5%
  • UNT 22%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 2%
  • UNT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • UNT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 4%
  • UNT 8%
  • % International
  • NSU 1%
  • UNT 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 2%
  • UNT 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 99%
  • UNT 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 1%
  • UNT 3%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NSU Yes
  • UNT Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NSU No
  • UNT No
  • Meal Plan
  • NSU Yes
  • UNT Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NSU No
  • UNT No
  • Daycare Facility
  • NSU No
  • UNT Yes

Comparable Facts

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

University of North Texas is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (46,864 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); University of North Texas is in Denton, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Texas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1; University of North Texas 25:1.

NSU vs. UNT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or UNT? 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 UNT ($13,134 vs. $15,965).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 2.4% lower than at University of North Texas ($10,926 vs. $11,194).
  • University of North Texas is 27.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $2,445 more per year; $11,309.00 vs. $8,864.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at UNT than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (about $1,497 more per year; $21,149.00 vs. $19,652.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than at University of North Texas (93% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 16.2% larger than aid received by University of North Texas students ($12,098 vs. $10,408).

NSU vs. UNT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Texas (1110) is 100 points higher than at NSU (1010).
  • Incoming UNT students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163; University of North Texas 980/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24; University of North Texas 19/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; UNT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNT Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNT students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at NSU (3.3).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than UNT (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at NSU vs. 24.2% at UNT.

NSU vs. UNT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and UNT? 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).

  • University of North Texas's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana's (37%).
  • Graduates from University of North Texas earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Texas graduates have a $1,531 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($20,000 vs. $21,531).
  • Among borrowers, UNT graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($206 vs. $222).
  • More UNT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.