Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA · Public · Master's university

SAT middle 50% (admitted students)

870–1160

Median ~1020

Acceptance rate

93%

Enrollment

5,519

ACT middle 50%

18–24

What the numbers say about NSU

The reported middle 50% spans 290 points, from 870 to 1160. A planning score near or above 1200 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee.
The reported section midpoints are 530 Reading and Writing and 490 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split.
The Scorecard snapshot reports a 93% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability.
Reported outcomes include a 43% completion rate and $47,021 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation.

Understand a 1020 SAT score Plan for a 1200 Verify current admissions policy

Tuition and outcomes

Tuition (in-state)

$8,864

Tuition (out-of-state)

$19,652

Median earnings 10 years after entry

$47,021

4-year completion rate (150% time)

43%

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; repository snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. Read the methodology.

How your SAT score lines up

The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between 870 and 1160. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate.

1200 SAT planning target: Above the reported middle-50% range.
1160 SAT (reported 75th percentile): At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range.
1020 SAT (median): Within the upper half of the reported range.
870 SAT (reported 25th percentile): Within the lower half of the reported range.

Compare to other colleges →

Colleges with similar SAT scores

Ranked by proximity to NSU's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds.

College	Location	SAT middle 50%	Acceptance rate
Metropolitan State University of Denver	Denver, CO	880–1130	99%
Purdue University Northwest	Hammond, IN	890–1140	72%
Louisiana State University-Alexandria	Alexandria, LA	970–1220	92%
University of West Alabama	Livingston, AL	860–1120	43%
Francis Marion University	Florence, SC	870–1120	86%
Elizabeth City State University	Elizabeth City, NC	920–1080	64%

FAQs

What SAT score do I need for NSU?

Northwestern State University of Louisiana's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 870–1160, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1200 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff.

What is NSU's acceptance rate?

Northwestern State University of Louisiana's most recently reported acceptance rate is approximately 93%.

How much does it cost to attend NSU?

In-state tuition is approximately $8,864 and out-of-state is approximately $19,652. These figures exclude room, board, and fees.

Is NSU test-optional?

Many US universities adjusted test policies after 2020. Check Northwestern State University of Louisiana's admissions page for current test-optional, test-required, or test-flexible policy.

Official site: www.nsula.edu

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