NSU vs. SHSU

Deciding between Northwestern State University of Louisiana and Sam Houston State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Sam Houston State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Natchitoches, LA
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • NSU Remote Town
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 8,523
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #928
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $8,864
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $19,652
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $10,926
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $13,134
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $12,098
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 93%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 3,015
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • NSU 2,790
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 92.5%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 37.4%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 1010
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 21
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 3.3
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Very Easy
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 18/24
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 866/1163
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 16:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NSU 37%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NSU $38,100
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NSU 46%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NSU $21,531
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NSU $222
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 30%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • NSU 70%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU High
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • NSU No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • NSU 54%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 1%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • NSU 31%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 5%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 2%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 4%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • NSU 1%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 2%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 99%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 1%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NSU Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NSU No
  • SHSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • NSU Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NSU No
  • SHSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • NSU No
  • SHSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sam Houston State University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (21,039 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); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

NSU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or SHSU? 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 Northwestern State University of Louisiana than SHSU ($13,134 vs. $14,737).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 6.8% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($10,926 vs. $11,720).
  • Sam Houston State University is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $364 more per year; $9,228.00 vs. $8,864.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at NSU than at Sam Houston State University (about $584 more per year; $19,652.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than at Sam Houston State University (93% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 13.4% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($12,098 vs. $10,669).

NSU vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 20 points higher than at NSU (1010).
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at SHSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 866/1163; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 18/24; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than SHSU (90.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at NSU vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

NSU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and SHSU? 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).

  • Sam Houston State University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Northwestern State University of Louisiana's (37%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $9,700 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $31 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($21,500 vs. $21,531).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Sam Houston State University and NSU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.