NSU vs. Lehman

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA with CUNY Lehman College in Bronx, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Lehman College is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (13,324 students vs. 8,523 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is located in Natchitoches, LA (Remote Town setting); CUNY Lehman College is in Bronx, NY (Large City setting).
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Lehman College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1; CUNY Lehman College 15:1.

NSU vs. Lehman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or Lehman? 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 CUNY Lehman College than NSU ($3,961 vs. $13,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 50.9% lower than at CUNY Lehman College ($10,926 vs. $22,260).
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 19.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehman (about $1,454 more per year; $8,864.00 vs. $7,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.9% higher at NSU than at CUNY Lehman College (about $4,292 more per year; $19,652.00 vs. $15,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Lehman College than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (94% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 19.2% larger than aid received by CUNY Lehman College students ($12,098 vs. $10,151).

NSU vs. Lehman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU or Lehman? 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 Lehman and NSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1010) is 10 points higher than at Lehman (1000).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163; CUNY Lehman College 850/1150.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; Lehman - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Lehman (3.2).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Lehman (56.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at NSU vs. 12.2% at Lehman.

NSU vs. Lehman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and Lehman? 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).

• CUNY Lehman College's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana's (37%).
• Graduates from CUNY Lehman College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,400 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Lehman College graduates have a $11,331 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($10,200 vs. $21,531).
• Among borrowers, Lehman graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($105 vs. $222).
• More Lehman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 46%)

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.