Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It enrolls 5,519 students (a large 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
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes25
Value73
Affordability68
Selectivity16
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 92.5%, Northwestern State University of Louisiana is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
92.5%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
866 – 1163
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northwestern State University of Louisiana is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northwestern State University of Louisiana 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 $13,606 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,606
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
35%
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)
$8,864
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,652
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,926
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,802
Books & Supplies
$1,353
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,167
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,167
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,431
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
$11,693
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,261
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,549
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,777
Over $110,000
$19,077
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.
$3,00010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$36,25090%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 $15,840
↓ $9,160
No Pell $12,500
↓ $12,500
Dependent students $13,000
↓ $12,000
Independent students $18,314
↓ $6,686
Female students $15,553
↓ $9,447
Male students $12,219
↓ $12,781
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,713, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
44% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn a median of $47,021 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,021
Earning > $25K
74%
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
$35,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,100, about 26% 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 ↓
5.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 70% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is home to 5,519 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
5,519
Part-Time
25%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.3%2,943
Black 28.7%1,584
Other 6.4%355
Hispanic 6.4%352
International 2.4%130
Asian 1.1%58
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteNatchitoches, Louisiana
Housing
Partly residential1,492 beds available
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
59 distinct programs across
20 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 Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,781
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$18M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,469
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
321 instructional faculty across 4 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
49
15%
$77,203
Associate Professors
72
22%
$70,945
Assistant Professors
160
50%
$61,019
Instructors
40
12%
$51,011
Pros & Cons of Northwestern State University of Louisiana
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwestern State University of Louisiana 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
Reasonable class sizes
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana hard to get into?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 92.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana has an acceptance rate of 92.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana scored between 866 and 1163 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 Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Northwestern State University of Louisiana cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana is $13,606 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,021 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,606 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwestern State University of Louisiana known for?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is best known for its programs in Nursing, Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwestern State University of Louisiana are $47,021, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana accredited?
Yes. Northwestern State University of Louisiana is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana enrolls 5,519 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduates 44% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana a public or private college?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a Public institution.
Where is Northwestern State University of Louisiana located?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is located in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
What programs does Northwestern State University of Louisiana offer?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers 59 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Louisiana
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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