UALR vs. NSU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR with Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than UALR based on total student enrollment (8,523 students vs. 8,216 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas at Little Rock is located in Little Rock, AR (Midsize City setting); Northwestern State University of Louisiana is in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting).
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 13:1; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1.

UALR vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UALR or NSU? 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 University of Arkansas at Little Rock than NSU ($12,033 vs. $13,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are 1.5% lower than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($10,760 vs. $10,926).
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $884 more per year; $9,748.00 vs. $8,864.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.8% higher at UALR than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (about $2,506 more per year; $22,158.00 vs. $19,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (93% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 9.9% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas at Little Rock students ($12,098 vs. $11,013).

UALR vs. NSU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (1090) is 80 points higher than at NSU (1010).
• Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at UALR).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 960/1210; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 17/24; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UALR - Required; NSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UALR Aug 17, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UALR students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at NSU (3.3).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than UALR (58.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at UALR vs. 37.4% at NSU.

UALR vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UALR and NSU? 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 University of Arkansas at Little Rock's (21%).
• Graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn a median of about $100 more per year than UALR graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,100 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduates have a $1,031 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($20,500 vs. $21,531).
• Among borrowers, UALR graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($211 vs. $222).
• More UALR graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.