IU East vs. NSU

Comparable Facts

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

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than IU East based on total student enrollment (8,523 students vs. 3,203 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Indiana University East is located in Richmond, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Northwestern State University of Louisiana is in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting).
• Indiana University East 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: Indiana University East 15:1; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1.

IU East vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU East 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 Indiana University East than NSU ($8,718 vs. $13,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 0.4% lower than at Indiana University East ($10,926 vs. $10,972).
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU East (about $440 more per year; $8,864.00 vs. $8,424.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.1% higher at IU East than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (about $3,159 more per year; $22,811.00 vs. $19,652.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than at Indiana University East (93% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 49.4% larger than aid received by Indiana University East students ($12,098 vs. $8,096).

IU East vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU East 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 IU East.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University East (1070) is 60 points higher than at NSU (1010).
• Incoming IU East 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: Indiana University East 960/1170; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University East 19/24; Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU East - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: IU East Aug 18, 2027.
• Accepted freshman IU East students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at NSU (3.3).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than IU East (67.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.2% at IU East vs. 37.4% at NSU.

IU East vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU East 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 Indiana University East's (19%).
• Graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than IU East graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,100 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University East graduates have a $1,031 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($20,500 vs. $21,531).
• Among borrowers, IU East graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($211 vs. $222).
• More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU East students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 40%)

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.