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Texas State Tarleton NKU University of South Alabama Alabama Southern Community College LSU UL Lafayette TROY Jacksonville State University Lamar University Arkansas State University Alabama| University of West Alabama | McNeese State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of West Alabama | McNeese | ||
| Location | Livingston, AL | Lake Charles, LA | ||
| Setting | Remote Rural | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,194 | 6,060 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1007 | #882 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uwa.edu | mcneese.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of West Alabama | McNeese | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,100 | $5,147 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $18,200 | $6,647 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,166 | $10,596 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,781 | $11,393 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,790 | $9,409 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 83% |
Admission |
University of West Alabama | McNeese | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,041 | 3,294 | ||
| Admitted | 1,778 | 2,225 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.1% | 67.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.7% | 47.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.16 | 3.36 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 17/22 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 820/978 | 810/1120 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 10, 2026 |
Academics |
University of West Alabama | McNeese | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of West Alabama | McNeese | ||
| Graduation Rate | 28% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,500 | $44,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 36% | 49% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,489 | $20,238 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $273 | $209 |
Diversity |
University of West Alabama | McNeese | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 13% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 45% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 40% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
University of West Alabama | McNeese | ||
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| % In-State | 77% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 10% | ||
Campus |
University of West Alabama | McNeese | ||
| 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 West Alabama is larger than than McNeese based on total student enrollment (6,194 students vs. 6,060 students)
University of West Alabama vs. McNeese Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of West Alabama or McNeese?
- University of West Alabama is 76.8% more expensive to attend than McNeese for in-state tuition ($9,100.00 vs. $5,147.00)
- Out of state tuition is 173.8% higher at University of West Alabama than McNeese State University ($18,200.00 vs. $6,647.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at McNeese State University than University of West Alabama ($11,393 vs. $14,781)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of West Alabama are 29.8% lower than costs at McNeese State University ($8,166 vs. $10,596)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of West Alabama than McNeese State University (93% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by McNeese State University students is 20.8% larger than aid received University of West Alabama ($9,409 vs. $7,790)
University of West Alabama vs. McNeese Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of West Alabama or McNeese? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between McNeese or University of West Alabama .
- The average SAT score at McNeese State University (1029) is 99 points higher than at University of West Alabama (930)
- Incoming McNeese students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at University of West Alabama (20)
- Accepted freshman McNeese students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at University of West Alabama (3.16)
- University of West Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than McNeese (67.5%)
University of West Alabama vs. McNeese Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of West Alabama or McNeese? 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 McNeese and University of West Alabama.
- The graduation rate at McNeese is higher than University of West Alabama (37% vs. 28%)
- Graduates from McNeese State University earn on average $5,500 more per year than University of West Alabama graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $38,500)
- McNeese State University students graduate with a $6,251 lower median federal student loan debt than University of West Alabama graduates. ($20,238 vs. $26,489)
- McNeese graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than University of West Alabama graduates. ($209 vs. $273)
- More McNeese graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of West Alabama students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 36%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/