Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, Louisiana · Public · 92.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 38/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) is a regional public university in Natchitoches scoring 38 on the CampusROI scale - Below Benchmark tier. Outcomes are the bottleneck. 10-year median earnings of $47,021 produce a 22.1% earnings premium (sub-score 48) and a 16.2-year payback period (sub-score 35). Median debt of $25,000 against those earnings yields a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 28). Repayment at 73.6% (sub-score 50) is mediocre, and the 43.2% completion rate (sub-score 27) is the weakest input. The institutional pattern mirrors many regional Louisiana publics: a single dominant program (nursing - 293 graduates, B+ grade, $86,608 four-year earnings) carries the strong outcomes while large weak-outcome cohorts in liberal arts (144), psychology (113), and biology (100) drag the institutional score down. The honest read: NSULA is a defensible choice for nursing-track or business students, but the 43% completion rate is a significant financial risk for marginal students.
How Northwestern State University of Louisiana scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score38/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period16.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,864/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,652/yr |
| Average net price | $13,606/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $54,424 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,021 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,519 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,864/year ($19,652/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,606/year, or roughly $54,424 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,693/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,077/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,700) and comes to 0.70, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $11,693 net annually, slightly below the $30,001-$48,000 bracket's $12,261 - a clean low-end progression. Over four years that is roughly $47,000 of cost. For Pell-eligible Louisiana students this is workable, particularly with TOPS state aid. The 43% completion rate is the dominant financial risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $12,549 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $17,777 - $50,000-$71,000 over four years. The math at this tier depends entirely on major selection: nursing students see strong ROI, while humanities and social-science students at the same price point see weak outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $19,077 net, or about $76,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Northwestern State University of Louisiana with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $86,608 | B+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $47,652 | D |
| Psychology | $44,492 | D |
| Biology | $55,452 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $51,927 | D |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $66,559 | C+ |
| Social Work | $47,296 | D |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,373 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $44,267 | F |
| Accounting | $60,861 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is NSULA's flagship by an enormous margin - 293 graduates per year, the largest single cohort in the entire program list. Graduates earn $74,935 at one year and $86,608 at four years against $25,638 of debt - a 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. By far the strongest ROI track at the school.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment graduates earn $58,627 at one year and $66,559 at four years against $26,797 of debt - a 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade. With 64 graduates per year this is one of NSULA's stronger non-nursing health-track cohorts. Career endpoints typically include radiologic technology, sonography, and respiratory therapy.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is one of the larger cohorts at 91 graduates per year. Graduates earn $37,020 at one year and $51,927 at four years against $28,750 of debt - a 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. The four-year earnings figure is below the institutional median and reflects Louisiana's relatively weak corporate labor market outside Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Psychology
Psychology is a large cohort at 113 graduates per year, but financially weak. Graduates earn $32,765 at one year and $44,492 at four years against $26,959 of debt - a 0.82 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. As is typical for bachelor's psychology, well-paid clinical paths require master's or doctoral training; this should be considered a stepping-stone bachelor's rather than a terminal degree.
Biology
Biology is one of the largest cohorts at 100 graduates per year. Graduates earn just $25,078 at one year and $55,452 at four years against $26,821 of debt - a 1.07 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade at year one. The strong four-year figure suggests significant progression to graduate or professional school (med, dental, PA), but bachelor's-only outcomes are weak. Pre-health students should expect to pursue further training to unlock earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 62.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 61.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 418-553 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 448-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 5,519 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,129 |
NSULA admits 92.5% of applicants - effectively open access. SAT mid-50% ranges of 418-553 math and 448-610 reading, with an ACT mid-range of 18-24, indicate a broadly accessible academic profile with substantial range. The 43.2% completion rate is consistent with this open-access posture; over half of incoming students do not graduate, which is the dominant financial risk for borrowers. Selectivity is not the screen; major selection and academic preparation are.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (this school) | 38 | $13,606 | $47,021 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | 43 | $7,065 | $42,205 |
| Dalton State College | 41 | $5,012 | $40,251 |
| University of North Alabama | 38 | $12,170 | $45,415 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| Grambling State University | 12 | $19,809 | $41,109 |
Who Thrives Here
With 5,519 students, a 35.2% Pell rate, and a Louisiana regional public mission, NSULA fits in-state students looking for an affordable bachelor's, especially those targeting nursing (the school's flagship). The 293-graduate nursing cohort alone is exceptional and produces $86,608 four-year earnings at a B+ grade. Outside nursing and allied health, outcomes are mediocre to weak, with multiple programs posting D or F ROI grades.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Northwestern State University of Louisiana scores 38/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $13,606 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,021 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 16.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 43.2% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana: Common Questions
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Northwestern State University of Louisiana scores 38/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $13,606 a year after aid against $47,021 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 16.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Northwestern State University of Louisiana cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,606 a year, or roughly $54,424 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,021 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,221 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 16.2 years for Northwestern State University of Louisiana. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $35,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.