UAFS vs. NSU

Should I go to University of Arkansas Fort Smith or Northwestern State University of Louisiana? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UAFS or NSU 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.

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University of Arkansas Fort Smith vs. Northwestern State University of Louisiana comparison
University of Arkansas Fort Smith Northwestern State University of Louisiana College 3 College 4
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
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Overview

UAFS NSU
Location Fort Smith, AR Natchitoches, LA
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 5,379 9,389
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #975
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uafortsmith.edu nsula.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UAFS NSU
Tuition (In State) $4,104 $5,180
Tuition (Out of State) $11,376 $15,968
Room & Board $9,645 $10,269
Avg Net Price $10,705 $14,238
Avg Grant Aid $8,283 $9,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 89%

Admission

UAFS NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,903
Admitted - 2,843
Acceptance Rate 97.9%
Enrolled % 35.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 955/1135
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

UAFS NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Precision Production Trades (10%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

UAFS NSU
Graduation Rate 23% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $38,100
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,132 $21,531
Median Loan Payment $146 $222

Diversity

UAFS NSU
% Men 40% 29%
% Women 60% 71%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 54%
% Black 4% 31%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 2% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

UAFS NSU
% In-State 87% 98%
% Out-of-State 12% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is larger than than UAFS based on total student enrollment (9,389 students vs. 5,379 students)

UAFS vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or NSU?

  • Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 26.2% more expensive to attend than UAFS for in-state tuition ($5,180.00 vs. $4,104.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.4% higher at NSU than University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($15,968.00 vs. $11,376.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than NSU ($10,705 vs. $14,238)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 6.5% lower than costs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ($9,645 vs. $10,269)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than Northwestern State University of Louisiana (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 14.7% larger than aid received University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($9,499 vs. $8,283)

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

  • Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at NSU (3.3)

UAFS vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith (37% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn on average $3,100 more per year than UAFS graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $35,000)
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith students graduate with a $7,399 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($14,132 vs. $21,531)
  • UAFS graduates are paying $76 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($146 vs. $222)
  • More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 46%)

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