Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,478 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 27.8 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
Student reviews are coming soon
We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.
Why it is good
- Affordable: the average student pays about $12,842 a year after grants, cheaper than 80% of four-year colleges.
Why it is bad
- Only 45% of students graduate. 78% of four-year colleges do better.
- Many students leave early: only 71% of first-year students return for a second year.
- Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $51,238, lower than 71% of four-year colleges.
- Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $24,875 in federal loans against earnings of $51,238.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 293 | $63,326 | $22,874 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 144 | $29,852 | $25,000 |
| Psychology, General | 113 | $25,739 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | 100 | $31,495 | $23,785 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 91 | $35,861 | $24,313 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 64 | $43,957 | $25,138 |
| Social Work | 53 | $22,329 | $27,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 50 | n/a | $23,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 46 | $28,870 | $26,975 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 38 | $33,459 | $28,000 |
| Information Science/Studies | 34 | $59,350 | $20,849 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 28 | $20,140 | $22,045 |
Associate degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 245 | $25,580 | $21,375 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 98 | $60,226 | $21,250 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 12 | n/a | n/a |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | 7 | n/a | n/a |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 7 | n/a | n/a |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.