The University of West Florida vs. NSU

Should I go to The University of West Florida or Northwestern State University of Louisiana? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if The University of West Florida or NSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

UNF LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech University of South Alabama UCF FGCU Florida State FAU University of South Florida St. Petersburg Florida USF Main Campus FIU LSUS
The University of West Florida vs. Northwestern State University of Louisiana comparison
The University of West Florida Northwestern State University of Louisiana College 3 College 4
The University of West Florida Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 The University of West Florida NSU
Location Pensacola, FL Natchitoches, LA
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 14,371 8,847
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #735 #869
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwf.edu nsula.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 The University of West Florida NSU
Tuition (In State) $4,319 $5,180
Tuition (Out of State) $16,587 $15,968
Room & Board $12,432 $10,617
Avg Net Price $8,908 $13,156
Avg Grant Aid $11,018 $11,220
% Receiving Grant Aid 84% 94%

Admission

 The University of West Florida NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,831 3,194
Admitted 5,591 2,994
Acceptance Rate 56.9% 93.7%
Enrolled % 26.9% 34.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 18/24
SAT Range 1020/1230 925/1243
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2026

Academics

 The University of West Florida NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

 The University of West Florida NSU
Graduation Rate 48% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,750 $21,531
Median Loan Payment $193 $222

Diversity

 The University of West Florida NSU
% Men 11% 2%
% Women 21% 8%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 65% 54%
% Black 13% 31%
% Hispanic 9% 5%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 The University of West Florida NSU
% In-State 88% 98%
% Out-of-State 10% 2%

Campus

 The University of West Florida NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (14,371 students vs. 8,847 students)

The University of West Florida vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of West Florida or NSU?

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 19.9% more expensive to attend than The University of West Florida for in-state tuition ($5,180.00 vs. $4,319.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.9% higher at The University of West Florida than Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($16,587.00 vs. $15,968.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than NSU ($8,908 vs. $13,156)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 17.1% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($10,617 vs. $12,432)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than The University of West Florida (94% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 1.8% larger than aid received The University of West Florida ($11,220 vs. $11,018)

The University of West Florida vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The University of West Florida or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or The University of West Florida .

  • The average SAT score at The University of West Florida (1053) is 45 points higher than at NSU (1008)
  • Incoming The University of West Florida students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman The University of West Florida students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at NSU (3.3)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than The University of West Florida (56.9%)

The University of West Florida vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, The University of West Florida or NSU? 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 NSU and The University of West Florida.

  • The graduation rate at The University of West Florida is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (48% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from The University of West Florida earn on average $3,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $38,100)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $2,781 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($18,750 vs. $21,531)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($193 vs. $222)
  • More The University of West Florida 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/