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Natchitoches, LA · Hammond, LA
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | Southeastern Louisiana University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $13,606/yr | $13,154/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,693/yr | $10,507/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,000 | $22,113 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,261/yr | $10,309/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $12,549/yr | $12,380/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $17,777/yr | $16,672/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $19,077/yr | $18,184/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $265/mo | $234/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,926/yr | $10,240/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,802/yr | $11,812/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,353/yr | $1,300/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,167/yr | $5,924/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $25,431/yr | $23,604/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,864/yr | $8,373/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,652/yr | $20,851/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 35% | 33% |
| Students taking federal loans | 35% | 32% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 93% | 99% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 866–1163 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1088 | 1090 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–24 | 18–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 17–24 · Math 16–23 | English 18–24 · Math 16–23 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,194 | 5,485 |
| Students accepted | 2,994 | 5,171 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,033 | 2,349 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 35% | 45% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 3% | 0% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 92% | 95% |
| 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 | 43% | 45% |
| Freshmen who come back | 71% | 73% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $47,021/yr | $46,482/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $29,131–$67,829 | $29,383–$68,123 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 45% | 43% |
| White students graduating | 45% | 50% |
| Black students graduating | 37% | 32% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 48% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 43% | 29% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $39,485/yr | $37,124/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 61% | 67% |
| Graduate on time | 30% | 26% |
| Pell students who graduate | 38% | 38% |
| First-gen students who finish | 42% | 37% |
| Low-income students who finish | 37% | 33% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 31% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $43,941/yr | $42,305/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 32% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 28% · Business, Management & Marketing 8% | Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Health Professions 16% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 12% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 32% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 28% of degrees | Health Professions — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 8% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 5% of degrees | Psychology — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 4% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $98,816/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $104,763/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 7.3% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,519 | 9,514 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 20 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 901 | 1,234 |
| Average professor pay | $7,129/mo | $7,315/mo |
| Full-time professors | 66% | 80% |
| 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 | $30,223 | $34,942 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | City (small) |
| Location | Natchitoches, LA | Hammond, LA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1884 | 1925 |
| 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 | 2.4% | 2.2% |
| Men | 29% | 39% |
| Women | 71% | 61% |
| White students | 53% | 65% |
| Black students | 29% | 20% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.4% | 6.6% |
| Asian students | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Two or more races | 4.8% | 4.2% |
| Other / not reported | 3.4% | 0.7% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 42% | 40% |
| Part-time students | 25% | 16% |
| Students age 25+ | 22% | 7% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $6,994/yr | $6,646/yr |
| Endowment | $18.9M | $23.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,492 | 2,648 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,336/yr | $5,360/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,490/yr | $4,170/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 | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | 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 | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | Yes |
| 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 | 10 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 339 | 389 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.4M | $5.2M |
| Athletics budget | $14.2M | $19.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $14.6M | $19.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $167,806 | $126,866 |
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.