UAPB vs. NSU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, 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 UAPB based on total student enrollment (8,523 students vs. 2,005 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is located in Pine Bluff, AR (Small City setting); Northwestern State University of Louisiana is in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting).
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 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 Pine Bluff 12:1; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1.

UAPB vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAPB 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 Pine Bluff than NSU ($12,373 vs. $13,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff are 15.9% lower than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($9,194 vs. $10,926).
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $548 more per year; $9,412.00 vs. $8,864.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at NSU than at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (about $1,660 more per year; $19,652.00 vs. $17,992.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (96% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 11.2% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff students ($12,098 vs. $10,883).

UAPB vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAPB 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 UAPB.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1010) is 30 points higher than at UAPB (980).
• Incoming NSU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 16 at UAPB).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 845/1108; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 14/18; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAPB - Required; NSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at UAPB (2.9).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than UAPB (41.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at UAPB vs. 37.4% at NSU.

UAPB vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAPB 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 Pine Bluff's (23%).
• Graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than UAPB graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,100 vs. $30,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduates have a $5,217 lower median loan debt than UAPB graduates ($21,531 vs. $26,748).
• Among borrowers, NSU graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UAPB graduates ($222 vs. $276).
• More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAPB students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 30%)

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.