Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public research university in Natchitoches, Louisiana, serving roughly 5,519 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 92.54% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $47,021 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,864
- 2024 Average Net Price: $13,606 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 92.54% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 5,519 75.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 43.20%
- Average SAT Score: 1088
Northwestern State University of Louisiana: what the data shows
Common questions about Northwestern State University of Louisiana, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is located in Natchitoches, LA (ZIP 71497-0002).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana public or private?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a Public institution.
How much does Northwestern State University of Louisiana cost?
Published tuition: $8,864 in-state, $19,652 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $13,606.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $11,693 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,261 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,549 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,777 |
| $110,001+ | $19,077 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $35,456.
How hard is it to get into Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Admission rate: 92.54%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1088 and midpoint ACT 19.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Total enrollment: 5,519 students.
About 75% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
150%-time completion rate: 43.20%.
First-year retention: 70.9%.
What do graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn?
Median earnings: $39,485 six years after entry; $47,021 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
35.24% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Northwestern State University of Louisiana known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (1,956 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (501 completions)
- CIP 240102 (321 completions)
- General Psychology (120 completions)
- CIP 510911 (96 completions)
- CIP 520201 (92 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (60 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (56 completions)
- CIP 190701 (46 completions)
- Social Work (43 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 92.54%; completion rate 43.20%; median earnings $47,021 at 10 years; net price $13,606. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$8,864
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northwestern State University of Louisiana was $8,864.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$13,606
2024 Value
In 2024 Northwestern State University of Louisiana had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,606.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,424 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$13,606 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$35,456 4-Year In-State Tuition
$78,608 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Financial Aid by Income Level
35.24% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
35.12% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Northwestern State University of Louisiana was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Northwestern State University of Louisiana in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,207 | $16,327 | $8,224 |
| 2014 | $6,863 | $17,651 | $11,446 |
| 2015 | $7,006 | $17,794 | $9,966 |
| 2016 | $7,620 | $18,408 | $12,182 |
| 2017 | $7,921 | $18,710 | $11,295 |
| 2018 | $7,922 | $18,710 | $11,049 |
| 2019 | $8,768 | $19,556 | $12,866 |
| 2020 | $8,672 | $19,460 | $13,483 |
| 2021 | $8,672 | $19,460 | $14,657 |
| 2022 | $8,672 | $19,460 | $15,540 |
| 2023 | $8,864 | $19,652 | $13,809 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
92.54% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1088
ACT Average: 19
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
75.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 2024 is 5,519 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
70.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
29.62% 100% Completion Time
43.20% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 29.62% of students graduating from Northwestern State University of Louisiana completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$47,021 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
53.17% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
763.98% Return on Investment
5.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 501 completions
CIP 24.0102: 321 completions
General Psychology: 120 completions
CIP 51.0911: 96 completions
CIP 52.0201: 92 completions
General Biological Sciences: 60 completions
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 56 completions
CIP 19.0701: 46 completions
Social Work: 43 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 1,956 completions
Most popular programs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduates.
About
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public institution located in Natchitoches, LA, offering 64 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 5,519 students. The admission rate is 92.54%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1088. The institution maintains a 43.20% graduation rate. Approximately 35.24% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Natchitoches, LA 71497-0002
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 64 distinct degree programs, Northwestern State University of Louisiana provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Northwestern State University of Louisiana cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $8,864 and average net price is $13,606 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
The admission rate is 92.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Northwestern State University of Louisiana reports midpoint SAT about 1088 and midpoint ACT about 19.
What do graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn?
Median earnings are $39,485 six years after entry and $47,021 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
The 150%-time completion rate is 43.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Northwestern State University of Louisiana students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
How big is Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Total enrollment is about 5,519 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana public or private?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public institution located in Natchitoches, LA.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana an HBCU?
No. Northwestern State University of Louisiana is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana a tribal college?
No. Northwestern State University of Louisiana is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Northwestern State University of Louisiana does not meet that proxy (reported share 6.4%).
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Northwestern State University of Louisiana in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.