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Lake Charles, LA · Natchitoches, LA
| McNeese State University | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $12,493/yr | $13,606/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $10,482/yr | $11,693/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,000 | $25,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $11,067/yr | $12,261/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,640/yr | $12,549/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $16,190/yr | $17,777/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $18,250/yr | $19,077/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $244/mo | $265/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,644/yr | $10,926/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,802/yr | $11,802/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,353/yr | $1,353/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,164/yr | $6,167/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $22,810/yr | $25,431/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,489/yr | $8,864/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $9,989/yr | $19,652/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 35% | 35% |
| Students taking federal loans | 32% | 35% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 78% | 93% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 940–1198 | 866–1163 |
| SAT average | 1087 | 1088 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–23 | 18–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 17–24 · Math 16–23 | English 17–24 · Math 16–23 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,294 | 3,194 |
| Students accepted | 2,225 | 2,994 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,063 | 1,033 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 48% | 35% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 9% | 3% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 88% | 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 | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 47% | 43% |
| Freshmen who come back | 68% | 71% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $46,453/yr | $47,021/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $26,345–$71,043 | $29,131–$67,829 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 50% | 45% |
| White students graduating | 50% | 45% |
| Black students graduating | 34% | 37% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 42% | 48% |
| Asian students graduating | 58% | 43% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $38,713/yr | $39,485/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 66% | 61% |
| Graduate on time | 25% | 30% |
| Pell students who graduate | 38% | 38% |
| First-gen students who finish | 41% | 42% |
| Low-income students who finish | 38% | 37% |
| Students who transfer out | 29% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $41,254/yr | $43,941/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Liberal Arts & General Studies 22% · Health Professions 16% · Business, Management & Marketing 15% | Health Professions 32% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 28% · Business, Management & Marketing 8% |
| Most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 22% of degrees | Health Professions — 32% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 16% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 28% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Engineering — 6% of degrees | Psychology — 5% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 4% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $112,712/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $98,816/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 14% | 7.3% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,005 | 5,519 |
| Students per professor | 20 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 573 | 901 |
| Average professor pay | $7,591/mo | $7,129/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 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 | $35,342 | $30,223 |
| Setting | City (small) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Lake Charles, LA | Natchitoches, LA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1939 | 1884 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 7.4% | 2.4% |
| Men | 38% | 29% |
| Women | 62% | 71% |
| White students | 61% | 53% |
| Black students | 19% | 29% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5% | 6.4% |
| Asian students | 1.8% | 1.1% |
| Two or more races | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Other / not reported | 1.5% | 3.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 38% | 42% |
| Part-time students | 9.5% | 25% |
| Students age 25+ | 13% | 22% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $5,647/yr | $6,994/yr |
| Endowment | $20.9M | $18.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,037 | 1,492 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,150/yr | $6,336/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,446/yr | $4,490/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | 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 | Yes | 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 | Yes | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| 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 | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 11 | 10 |
| Student athletes | 372 | 339 |
| Athletic scholarships | $4.5M | $5.4M |
| Athletics budget | $18.5M | $14.2M |
| Athletics revenue | $18.5M | $14.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $326,522 | $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, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.