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Alexandria, LA · Lake Charles, LA
| Louisiana State University at Alexandria | McNeese State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $7,065/yr | $12,493/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $5,008/yr | $10,482/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $19,000 | $23,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $5,075/yr | $11,067/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $7,524/yr | $11,640/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $10,794/yr | $16,190/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $11,941/yr | $18,250/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $201/mo | $244/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,598/yr | $10,644/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,530/yr | $11,802/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,200/yr | $1,353/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,332/yr | $6,164/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $15,550/yr | $22,810/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,050/yr | $8,489/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $14,650/yr | $9,989/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 35% | 35% |
| Students taking federal loans | 36% | 32% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 92% | 78% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 970–1220 | 940–1198 |
| SAT average | 1022 | 1087 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–22 | 18–23 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 18–24 · Math 16–21 | English 17–24 · Math 16–23 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 706 | 3,294 |
| Students accepted | 654 | 2,225 |
| Students who enrolled | 482 | 1,063 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 74% | 48% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 5% | 9% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 95% | 88% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 34% | 47% |
| Freshmen who come back | 70% | 68% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $42,205/yr | $46,453/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $25,873–$59,050 | $26,345–$71,043 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 35% | 50% |
| White students graduating | 39% | 50% |
| Black students graduating | 15% | 34% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 43% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 50% | 58% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $37,284/yr | $38,713/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 58% | 66% |
| Graduate on time | 24% | 25% |
| Pell students who graduate | 24% | 38% |
| First-gen students who finish | 35% | 41% |
| Low-income students who finish | 30% | 38% |
| Students who transfer out | 36% | 29% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $39,039/yr | $41,254/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 27% · Business, Management & Marketing 17% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 15% | Liberal Arts & General Studies 22% · Health Professions 16% · Business, Management & Marketing 15% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 27% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 17% of degrees | Health Professions — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 13% of degrees | Engineering — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Mathematics & Statistics — 5% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $82,919/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $112,712/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 12% | 14% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,632 | 5,005 |
| Students per professor | 33 : 1 | 20 : 1 |
| Graduate students | No data reported | 573 |
| Average professor pay | $7,220/mo | $7,591/mo |
| Full-time professors | 60% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $32,073 | $35,342 |
| Setting | Rural (fringe) | City (small) |
| Location | Alexandria, LA | Lake Charles, LA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1961 | 1939 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.9% | 7.4% |
| Men | 27% | 38% |
| Women | 73% | 62% |
| White students | 56% | 61% |
| Black students | 22% | 19% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 0.8% | 5% |
| Asian students | 2.1% | 1.8% |
| Two or more races | 13% | 4.3% |
| Other / not reported | 6% | 1.5% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 45% | 38% |
| Part-time students | 38% | 9.5% |
| Students age 25+ | 44% | 13% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $5,430/yr | $5,647/yr |
| Endowment | $25.9M | $20.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 390 | 1,037 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,760/yr | $6,150/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,494/yr | $4,446/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | No | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NAIA Division I | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 7 | 11 |
| Student athletes | 177 | 372 |
| Athletic scholarships | $487,000 | $4.5M |
| Athletics budget | $2.6M | $18.5M |
| Athletics revenue | $2.7M | $18.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $0 | $326,522 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.