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Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OU Ole Miss Alabama University of Missouri-Columbia Missouri State University-Springfield Texas Tech UNT LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech UT Dallas KU Texas A&M| University of Arkansas | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Arkansas | NSU | ||
| Location | Fayetteville, AR | Natchitoches, LA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 32,140 | 8,847 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #444 | #869 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uark.edu | nsula.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Arkansas | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,666 | $5,180 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,690 | $15,968 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,290 | $10,617 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,475 | $13,156 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,109 | $11,220 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 94% |
Admission |
Arkansas | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 28,186 | 3,194 | ||
| Admitted | 20,202 | 2,994 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 71.7% | 93.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 31.4% | 34.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1220 | 925/1243 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Arkansas | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Arkansas | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,400 | $38,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 46% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $21,531 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $222 |
Diversity |
Arkansas | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 54% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 31% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Arkansas | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 47% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 52% | 2% | ||
Campus |
Arkansas | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Arkansas is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (32,140 students vs. 8,847 students)
Arkansas vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Arkansas or NSU?
- University of Arkansas is 48% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,666.00 vs. $5,180.00)
- Out of state tuition is 67.1% higher at Arkansas than Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($26,690.00 vs. $15,968.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Arkansas ($13,156 vs. $17,475)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 25.2% lower than costs at University of Arkansas ($10,617 vs. $13,290)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than University of Arkansas (94% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 38.4% larger than aid received University of Arkansas ($11,220 vs. $8,109)
Arkansas vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Arkansas or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or Arkansas .
- The average SAT score at University of Arkansas (1154) is 146 points higher than at NSU (1008)
- Incoming Arkansas students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NSU (22)
- Accepted freshman Arkansas students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at NSU (3.3)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than Arkansas (71.7%)
Arkansas vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Arkansas 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 Arkansas.
- The graduation rate at Arkansas is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (59% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from University of Arkansas earn on average $12,300 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $38,100)
- University of Arkansas students graduate with a $31 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $21,531)
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana and Arkansas graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($222 vs. $222)
- More Arkansas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/