Western State Colorado University vs. NSU

Should I go to Western State Colorado University or Northwestern State University of Louisiana? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western State Colorado University 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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Western State Colorado University vs. Northwestern State University of Louisiana comparison
Western State Colorado University Northwestern State University of Louisiana College 3 College 4
Western State Colorado University Northwestern State University of Louisiana
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Overview

Western State Colorado University NSU
Location Gunnison, CO Natchitoches, LA
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 4,053 8,847
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #757 #869
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website western.edu nsula.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western State Colorado University NSU
Tuition (In State) $7,128 $5,180
Tuition (Out of State) $19,728 $15,968
Room & Board $10,442 $10,617
Avg Net Price $17,709 $13,156
Avg Grant Aid $7,169 $11,220
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 94%

Admission

Western State Colorado University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,283 3,194
Admitted 3,200 2,994
Acceptance Rate 97.5% 93.7%
Enrolled % 13.2% 34.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1240 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

Academics

Western State Colorado University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

Western State Colorado University NSU
Graduation Rate 39% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $21,531
Median Loan Payment $222 $222

Diversity

Western State Colorado University NSU
% Men 4% 2%
% Women 8% 8%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 75% 54%
% Black 3% 31%
% Hispanic 10% 5%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 6% 2%

Students

Western State Colorado University NSU
% In-State 72% 98%
% Out-of-State 27% 2%

Campus

Western State Colorado University 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

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (8,847 students vs. 4,053 students)

Western State Colorado University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western State Colorado University or NSU?

  • Western State Colorado University is 37.6% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,128.00 vs. $5,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.5% higher at Western State Colorado University than Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($19,728.00 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 Western State Colorado University ($13,156 vs. $17,709)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western State Colorado University are 1.7% lower than costs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($10,442 vs. $10,617)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than Western State Colorado University (94% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 56.5% larger than aid received Western State Colorado University ($11,220 vs. $7,169)

Western State Colorado University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 44 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Western State Colorado University students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at NSU (3.3)
  • Western State Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than NSU (93.7%)

Western State Colorado University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western State Colorado University 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 Western State Colorado University.

  • The graduation rate at Western State Colorado University is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (39% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Western State Colorado University earn on average $2,700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $38,100)
  • Western State Colorado University 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 Western State Colorado University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($222 vs. $222)
  • More Western State Colorado University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 46%)

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