Northwestern State University of Louisiana

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

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About Northwestern State University of Louisiana

School Type: Public

Religious Affiliation: Not applicable

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: No

Accreditation: regional

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a medium-sized public university located on a rural campus in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,622, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 96%. The university offers 35 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 44%, and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $5,180, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $15,968.

Natchitoches, LA

$5,180

Avg in-state
tuition

$15,968

Avg out-of-state
tuition

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Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

96%

Acceptance Rate Insight

96% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

64%

Retention Rate Insight

64% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

44%

Graduation Rate Insight

44% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scoresRequired

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankNot required or recommended

Letter of recommendationNot required or recommended

High school GPARequired

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRequired

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentYes

Credit for qualified life experience*Yes

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile16-22

SAT 25th-75th Percentile920-1120

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

11k

Students enrolled

88%

Online student enrollment

19:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
HybridCheck Bold

Demographics

White

58%

Unknown

1%

Black

27%

Hispanic

6%

Two or more races

4%

Non-U.S. Citizen

1%

Asian

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

1%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

55% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

55%

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

54

Total Online Enrollment

9,463

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

39% On-campus

61% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

CertificatesCheck Bold25% online

AssociateCheck Bold25% online

Bachelor'sCheck Bold46% online

Graduate CertificateCheck Bold74% online

Master'sCheck Bold81% online

DoctorateCheck Bold100% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

83%

State Grant Aid

69%

Institution Grant Aid

54%

Pell Grant

55%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid$3,867
State Grant Aid$3,832
Institution Grant Aid$5,162
Pell Grant Aid$5,003

Financial Outlook

$25k

Average student debtafter graduation

$36k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FCS

4%

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

MenWomen
  • All Track Combined
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
2Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
3Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs.
4Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
5Education.
6Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
7Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians.
8English Language And Literature/Letters.
9Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences.
10Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences.
11Health Professions And Related Programs.
12History
13History.
14Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services.
15Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities.
16Mathematics And Statistics.
17Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
18Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies.
19Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology.
20Physical Sciences.
21Psychology.
22Public Administration And Social Service Professions.
23Security And Protective Services.
24Visual And Performing Arts.

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.