Northwestern State University of Louisiana campus
Northwestern State University of Louisiana logo

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Type 4 year, Public
Campus locale Town: Remote
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Medium
Dormitory capacity 1,492
Student to faculty ratio 19 to 1
Acceptance rate 96%
Students retention rate 64%
On-time graduation rate 44%

Located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Northwestern State is a public, institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

The acceptance rate of 96% indicates that Northwestern State is open to a wide range of applicants, providing opportunities for a diverse student body.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern State is 19-to-1, which is slightly higher than both the state and national averages. The state average student-to-faculty ratio in Louisiana is 17-to-1, while the national average is 17-to-1. A lower student-to-faculty ratio generally allows for more personalized attention and interaction between students and faculty.

While the on-time graduation rate at Northwestern State is reported to be 44%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Louisiana state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 42% whereas the national average was 49%.

The retention rate of students at Northwestern State is 64% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Louisiana is 66%, while the national average is 72%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Northwestern State do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

96.3%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$8,672

Cost of attendance at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 2022 for students from Louisiana.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Louisiana's average $8,756
National average $8,573

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$19,460

Cost of attendance at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Louisiana's average $18,188
National average $18,862

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 93 of freshman students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana received on average $9,347 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$9,347
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 766 55% $5,292 $4,053,327
Other Federal Grant 1,166 83% $3,867 $4,508,762
State Grant/Scholarships 973 69% $3,832 $3,728,614
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 760 54% $5,162 $3,923,101
Total Grant & Scholarships 1,301 93% $9,347 $12,160,477

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Northwestern State University of Louisiana students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Northwestern State University of Louisiana students is 44.1%. Female students graduated at a rate of 45.3%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 42.0%.

44.1%

  • asian 33.3% 2 students
  • African American 35.6% 132 students
  • white 48.0% 319 students
  • unknown 37.5% 3 students
  • hispanic 47.4% 37 students
  • International Students 72.2% 13 students
  • Mixed Race 44.6% 25 students

Sport Conferences

  • Football Southland Conference
  • Baseball Southland Conference
  • Basketball Southland Conference
  • Track and Cross Country Southland Conference

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Northwestern State University of Louisiana provides the following additional services to its students
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • High school education

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification
  • ROTC - Army

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Credit for military training

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