VSU vs. NSU

Should I go to Valdosta State University or Northwestern State University of Louisiana? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VSU or NSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Valdosta State University vs. Northwestern State University of Louisiana comparison
Valdosta State University Northwestern State University of Louisiana College 3 College 4
Valdosta State University Northwestern State University of Louisiana
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Overview

VSU NSU
Location Valdosta, GA Natchitoches, LA
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 10,209 9,389
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #982 #975
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website valdosta.edu nsula.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

VSU NSU
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $5,180
Tuition (Out of State) $15,426 $15,968
Room & Board $8,922 $10,269
Avg Net Price $12,836 $14,238
Avg Grant Aid $9,875 $9,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 89%

Admission

VSU NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,975 2,903
Admitted 4,451 2,843
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 97.9%
Enrolled % 25.3% 35.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 18/23
SAT Range 950/1130 955/1135
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2025

Academics

VSU NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

VSU NSU
Graduation Rate 43% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 41% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $21,531
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

VSU NSU
% Men 31% 29%
% Women 69% 71%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 54%
% Black 36% 31%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

VSU NSU
% In-State 69% 98%
% Out-of-State 30% 2%

Campus

VSU NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Valdosta State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (10,209 students vs. 9,389 students)

VSU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VSU or NSU?

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 18.5% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($5,180.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.5% higher at NSU than Valdosta State University ($15,968.00 vs. $15,426.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Valdosta State University than NSU ($12,836 vs. $14,238)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valdosta State University are 15.1% lower than costs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($8,922 vs. $10,269)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Valdosta State University than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (99% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valdosta State University students is 4% larger than aid received Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($9,875 vs. $9,499)

VSU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VSU or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or VSU .

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 15 points higher than at VSU (993)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at VSU (21)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at VSU (3.23)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than VSU (89.5%)

VSU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VSU 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 VSU.

  • The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (43% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Valdosta State University earn on average $2,200 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $38,100)
  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana students graduate with a $3,469 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($21,531 vs. $25,000)
  • NSU graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/