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Ruston, LA · Natchitoches, LA
| Louisiana Tech University | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $11,864/yr | $13,606/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $7,676/yr | $11,693/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,135 | $25,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $8,619/yr | $12,261/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,146/yr | $12,549/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $15,674/yr | $17,777/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $16,207/yr | $19,077/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $235/mo | $265/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,618/yr | $10,926/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,635/yr | $11,802/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,632/yr | $1,353/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,561/yr | $6,167/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $24,280/yr | $25,431/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,125/yr | $8,864/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $16,866/yr | $19,652/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 22% | 35% |
| Students taking federal loans | 27% | 35% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 86% | 93% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1100–1310 | 866–1163 |
| SAT average | 1191 | 1088 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 21–27 | 18–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 21–26 · Math 20–26 | English 17–24 · Math 16–23 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 9,263 | 3,194 |
| Students accepted | 6,722 | 2,994 |
| Students who enrolled | 2,263 | 1,033 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 34% | 35% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 4% | 3% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 86% | 92% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 64% | 43% |
| Freshmen who come back | 82% | 71% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $52,279/yr | $47,021/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $32,547–$79,643 | $29,131–$67,829 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 59% | 45% |
| White students graduating | 68% | 45% |
| Black students graduating | 43% | 37% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 68% | 48% |
| Asian students graduating | 74% | 43% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $44,903/yr | $39,485/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 71% | 61% |
| Graduate on time | 44% | 30% |
| Pell students who graduate | 48% | 38% |
| First-gen students who finish | 53% | 42% |
| Low-income students who finish | 52% | 37% |
| Students who transfer out | 9.5% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $48,864/yr | $43,941/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 18% · Engineering 13% | Health Professions 32% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 28% · Business, Management & Marketing 8% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Health Professions — 32% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 18% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 28% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Engineering — 13% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees | Psychology — 5% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 6% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 4% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Engineering-Related Fields — $88,255/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $98,816/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 33% | 7.3% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 8,312 | 5,519 |
| Students per professor | 21 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 992 | 901 |
| Average professor pay | $9,177/mo | $7,129/mo |
| Full-time professors | 66% | 66% |
| 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 | $45,710 | $30,223 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Ruston, LA | Natchitoches, LA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1894 | 1884 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.1% | 2.4% |
| Men | 56% | 29% |
| Women | 44% | 71% |
| White students | 73% | 53% |
| Black students | 12% | 29% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 4.7% | 6.4% |
| Asian students | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Two or more races | 1.8% | 4.8% |
| Other / not reported | 3.7% | 3.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 31% | 42% |
| Part-time students | 6.5% | 25% |
| Students age 25+ | 2.7% | 22% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $7,357/yr | $6,994/yr |
| Endowment | $99.2M | $18.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,614 | 1,492 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $6,336/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $4,490/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Quarter | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Air Force | Yes — Army |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | No | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 10 |
| Student athletes | 348 | 339 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.8M | $5.4M |
| Athletics budget | $34.0M | $14.2M |
| Athletics revenue | $34.0M | $14.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $813,234 | $167,806 |
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 and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.