Nicholls State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It enrolls 4,737 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes46
Value75
Affordability68
Selectivity27
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 90.8%, Nicholls State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
90.8%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
934 – 1196
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Nicholls State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Nicholls State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,947 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,947
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,149
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,242
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,412
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,802
Books & Supplies
$1,300
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,240
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,240
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,481
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,714
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,527
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,139
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,784
Over $110,000
$17,954
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$22,675Medianpercentile
$23,50075%percentile
$37,14290%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,806
↓ $7,869
No Pell $11,000
↓ $11,675
Dependent students $12,686
↓ $9,989
Independent students $15,751
↓ $6,924
Female students $14,443
↓ $8,232
Male students $11,000
↓ $11,675
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($22,675), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Nicholls State University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Nicholls State University earn a median of $45,454 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,454
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $22,700, about 40% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Declining: debt management worsening over time ↓
5.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Nicholls State University is home to 4,737 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,737
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
46%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.9%3,027
Black 18.4%871
Hispanic 6.6%311
Other 6.1%290
International 2.0%95
Asian 1.3%63
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Nicholls State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityThibodaux, Louisiana
Housing
Partly residential1,416 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Nicholls State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
42 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Nicholls State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,064
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$17M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$62,757
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
254 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
41
16%
$85,091
Associate Professors
45
18%
$66,466
Assistant Professors
94
37%
$61,982
Instructors
73
29%
$49,654
Lecturers
1
0%
$9,600
Pros & Cons of Nicholls State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Nicholls State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Nicholls State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nicholls State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Nicholls State University.
Is Nicholls State University hard to get into?
Nicholls State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Nicholls State University?
Nicholls State University has an acceptance rate of 90.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Nicholls State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Nicholls State University scored between 934 and 1196 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Nicholls State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Nicholls State University scored between 19 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Nicholls State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Nicholls State University is $12,947 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Nicholls State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,454 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,947 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Nicholls State University known for?
Nicholls State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Health Sciences, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Nicholls State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Nicholls State University are $45,454, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Nicholls State University accredited?
Yes. Nicholls State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Nicholls State University?
Nicholls State University enrolls 4,737 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Nicholls State University?
Nicholls State University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Nicholls State University a public or private college?
Nicholls State University is a Public institution.
Where is Nicholls State University located?
Nicholls State University is located in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
What programs does Nicholls State University offer?
Nicholls State University offers 42 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Health Sciences, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Nicholls State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Nicholls State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Nicholls State University
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