NSU vs. NMSU

Should I go to Northwestern State University of Louisiana or New Mexico State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NSU or NMSU 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. 

UNM UTEP LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech LSUS Arizona Christian University Texas Tech ULM ASU UL Lafayette Rutgers University-Newark ENMU LSUA
Northwestern State University of Louisiana vs. New Mexico State University Main Campus comparison
Northwestern State University of Louisiana New Mexico State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Northwestern State University of Louisiana New Mexico State University Main Campus
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

NSU NMSU
Location Natchitoches, LA Las Cruces, NM
Setting Remote Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 9,389 14,268
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #975 #811
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nsula.edu nmsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NSU NMSU
Tuition (In State) $5,180 $6,283
Tuition (Out of State) $15,968 $23,407
Room & Board $10,269 $11,252
Avg Net Price $14,238 $10,407
Avg Grant Aid $9,499 $13,168
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 95%

Admission

NSU NMSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,903 15,860
Admitted 2,843 12,378
Acceptance Rate 97.9% 78%
Enrolled % 35.9% 18.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.55
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 17/23
SAT Range 955/1135 900/1140
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

NSU NMSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

NSU NMSU
Graduation Rate 37% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,100 $39,400
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 44%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,531 $17,118
Median Loan Payment $222 $176

Diversity

NSU NMSU
% Men 29% 42%
% Women 71% 58%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 54% 30%
% Black 31% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 55%
% Native American 2% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

NSU NMSU
% In-State 98% 72%
% Out-of-State 2% 25%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (14,268 students vs. 9,389 students)

NSU vs. NMSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or NMSU?

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is 21.3% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($6,283.00 vs. $5,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.6% higher at NMSU than Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($23,407.00 vs. $15,968.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than NSU ($10,407 vs. $14,238)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 9.6% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Main Campus ($10,269 vs. $11,252)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (95% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 38.6% larger than aid received Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($13,168 vs. $9,499)

NSU vs. NMSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (1008) is 25 points higher than at NMSU (983)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NMSU (21)
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at NSU (3.3)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than NMSU (78%)

NSU vs. NMSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NSU or NMSU? 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 NMSU and NSU.

  • The graduation rate at NMSU is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (46% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from New Mexico State University Main Campus earn on average $1,300 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($39,400 vs. $38,100)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $4,413 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($17,118 vs. $21,531)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($176 vs. $222)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 44%)

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