NSU vs. Fairmont State

Should I go to Northwestern State University of Louisiana or Fairmont State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NSU or Fairmont State 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech WVSU WVU Marshall University LSUS ULM UL Lafayette PennWest California Rutgers University-Newark West Liberty University LSUA Bluefield State College
Northwestern State University of Louisiana vs. Fairmont State University comparison
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Fairmont State University College 3 College 4
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Fairmont State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 NSU Fairmont State
Location Natchitoches, LA Fairmont, WV
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 9,389 3,498
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #975 #979
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nsula.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NSU Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $5,180 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $15,968 $15,638
Room & Board $10,269 $10,022
Avg Net Price $14,238 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $9,499 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 94%

Admission

 NSU Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,903 1,926
Admitted 2,843 1,897
Acceptance Rate 97.9% 98.5%
Enrolled % 35.9% 37%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 18/23
SAT Range 955/1135 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline

Academics

 NSU Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

 NSU Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 37% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,100 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,531 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $227

Diversity

 NSU Fairmont State
% Men 29% 41%
% Women 71% 59%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 54% 86%
% Black 31% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 NSU Fairmont State
% In-State 98% 88%
% Out-of-State 2% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than than Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (9,389 students vs. 3,498 students)

NSU vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or Fairmont State ?

  • Fairmont State University is 16.3% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($6,022.00 vs. $5,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at NSU than Fairmont State University ($15,968.00 vs. $15,638.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than NSU ($10,794 vs. $14,238)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 2.5% lower than costs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($10,022 vs. $10,269)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairmont State University than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (94% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 45.1% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($9,499 vs. $6,547)

NSU vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 46 points higher than at Fairmont State (962)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Fairmont State (21)
  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at NSU (3.3)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than NSU (97.9%)

NSU vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NSU or Fairmont State ? 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 Fairmont State and NSU.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Fairmont State University (37% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn on average $500 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $37,600)
  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana students graduate with a $469 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairmont State graduates. ($21,531 vs. $22,000)
  • NSU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Fairmont State graduates. ($222 vs. $227)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 43%)

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