ULM vs. NSU

Comparable Facts

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

University of Louisiana at Monroe is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (8,601 students vs. 8,523 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Louisiana at Monroe is located in Monroe, LA (Small City setting); Northwestern State University of Louisiana is in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting).
• University of Louisiana at Monroe 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 Louisiana at Monroe 18:1; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1.

ULM vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ULM 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 Northwestern State University of Louisiana than ULM ($13,134 vs. $13,648).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisiana at Monroe are 3.4% lower than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($10,554 vs. $10,926).
• University of Louisiana at Monroe is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $326 more per year; $9,190.00 vs. $8,864.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at ULM than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (about $1,638 more per year; $21,290.00 vs. $19,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisiana at Monroe than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (95% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Louisiana at Monroe students is 10.2% larger than aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students ($13,338 vs. $12,098).

ULM vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ULM 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 ULM.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Louisiana at Monroe (1260) is 250 points higher than at NSU (1010).
• Incoming ULM students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at NSU (21).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisiana at Monroe 1160/1360; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisiana at Monroe 18/24; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ULM - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman ULM students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at NSU (3.3).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than ULM (84.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.1% at ULM vs. 37.4% at NSU.

ULM vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ULM 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 Louisiana at Monroe's (33%).
• Graduates from University of Louisiana at Monroe earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,800 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisiana at Monroe graduates have a $1,531 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($20,000 vs. $21,531).
• Among borrowers, ULM graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($206 vs. $222).
• More ULM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.