NSU vs. UL Lafayette

Northwestern State University of Louisiana and University of Louisiana at Lafayette side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana
University of Louisiana at Lafayette

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UL Lafayette (87% admitted vs 92.5%). Typical SAT 1180 vs 1010.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $13,134 at NSU vs $13,017 at UL Lafayette. UL Lafayette in-state tuition is about $1,554 more per year.
  • Graduation: NSU 37% vs UL Lafayette 41%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: NSU $38,100 vs UL Lafayette $45,000 (median).
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Key differences

Northwestern State University of Louisiana University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Acceptance rate
UL Lafayette more selective
NSU92.5%
UL Lafayette87%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UL Lafayette higher
NSU866-1163
UL Lafayette1120-1240
Average net price
About even
NSU$13,134
UL Lafayette$13,017
In-state tuition
NSU $1,554 less
NSU$8,864
UL Lafayette$10,418
Out-of-state tuition
NSU $4,494 less
NSU$19,652
UL Lafayette$24,146
Graduation rate
UL Lafayette +4 pts
NSU37%
UL Lafayette41%
Median earnings (10 years)
UL Lafayette +$6,900
NSU$38,100
UL Lafayette$45,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • NSU 3,015
  • UL Lafayette 11,099
  • Admitted
  • NSU 2,790
  • UL Lafayette 9,657
  • Acceptance rate
  • NSU 92.5%
  • UL Lafayette 87%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • NSU 37.4%
  • UL Lafayette 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 1010
  • UL Lafayette 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 21
  • UL Lafayette 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • NSU 3.3
  • UL Lafayette 3.4
  • Typical high school grades
  • NSU B+
  • UL Lafayette B+
  • Admissions standards
  • NSU Very Easy
  • UL Lafayette Average
  • Applicant competition
  • NSU
  • UL Lafayette
  • SAT range
  • NSU 866-1163
  • UL Lafayette 1120-1240
  • ACT range
  • NSU 18-24
  • UL Lafayette 23-28
  • Submit test scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • UL Lafayette Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • NSU
  • UL Lafayette
  • Tuition (in state)
  • NSU $8,864
  • UL Lafayette $10,418
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • NSU $19,652
  • UL Lafayette $24,146
  • Room & board
  • NSU $10,926
  • UL Lafayette $12,108
  • Average net price
  • NSU $13,134
  • UL Lafayette $13,017
  • Average grant aid
  • NSU $12,098
  • UL Lafayette $11,762
  • % receiving grant aid
  • NSU 93%
  • UL Lafayette 91%
  • Graduation rate
  • NSU 37%
  • UL Lafayette 41%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • NSU $38,100
  • UL Lafayette $45,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • NSU 46%
  • UL Lafayette 55%
  • Median student loan debt
  • NSU $21,531
  • UL Lafayette $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • NSU $222
  • UL Lafayette $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • NSU 16:1
  • UL Lafayette 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • NSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • UL Lafayette
    • Business (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Engineering (6%)
  • Location
  • NSU Natchitoches, LA
  • UL Lafayette Lafayette, LA
  • Setting
  • NSU Remote Town
  • UL Lafayette Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 8,523
  • UL Lafayette 15,665
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • UL Lafayette Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • NSU #928
  • UL Lafayette #682

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA with University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (15,665 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); University of Louisiana at Lafayette is in Lafayette, LA (Midsize City setting).
  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern State University of Louisiana 16:1; University of Louisiana at Lafayette 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are 9.8% lower than at University of Louisiana at Lafayette ($10,926 vs. $12,108).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.9% higher at UL Lafayette than at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (about $4,494 more per year; $24,146 vs. $19,652).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana than at University of Louisiana at Lafayette (93% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 2.9% larger than aid received by University of Louisiana at Lafayette students ($12,098 vs. $11,762).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at UL Lafayette than at NSU (25 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both NSU and UL Lafayette.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UL Lafayette average a 3.4 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at NSU (3.3).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at NSU vs. 31.7% at UL Lafayette.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates have a $2,031 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,531).
  • Among borrowers, UL Lafayette graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More UL Lafayette graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation (55% vs. 46%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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