Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Northwestern State University of Louisiana #466 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Northwestern State University of Louisiana sits in the 73.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $4,064 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Northwestern State University of Louisiana #367 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Northwestern State University of Louisiana's composite standing reflects a combination of earnings that outpace expectations and post-graduation affordability that compares favorably across nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's health-dominant program portfolio — a field with strong and stable regional demand — supports graduate earnings that exceed what similar students achieve at comparable institutions.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana's published cost of attendance is $25,431. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $11,693, middle-income families pay around $12,549, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,077. Azimuth ranks Northwestern State University of Louisiana #367 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Northwestern State's affordability profile reflects its public tuition structure and need-based aid reach. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and need-based scholarships help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,900, and private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,762, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a good fit for students in LA and the surrounding region who are drawn to health professions, education, and applied fields — particularly those seeking an accessible public university with a clear path to stable regional employment. Graduates earn median $56,762 four years after enrollment, placing Northwestern State University of Louisiana in the 31.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and graduates earn about $4,064 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 73.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Northwestern State University of Louisiana enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 35.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 42.4% are first-generation — and the university's broad access profile is reinforced by an admission rate of 92.5%, making it reachable for most qualified applicants. Median student debt at graduation is $25,000, which is a meaningful consideration for students who expect to enter local-labor markets in health, education, or public service after completing their degrees. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a broad research-university experience or high-mobility national career pathways may find a better match elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the Northwestern State University Of Louisiana hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks Northwestern State University of Louisiana #466 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Natchitoches, LA, Northwestern State University of Louisiana enrolls roughly 5,519 undergraduates. Retention stands at 70.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 43.2%, figures that reflect the institution's role serving a broad regional student population. The composite is anchored by what Northwestern State University of Louisiana delivers for the students it enrolls. 35.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 42.4% are first-generation college students — a profile that places Northwestern State University of Louisiana among the more access-oriented institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. The dominant program concentration in Health shapes both who attends and where graduates land in the regional labor market. Graduates earn about $4,064 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Northwestern State University of Louisiana in the 73.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment sits lower in the composite. Azimuth ranks Northwestern State University of Louisiana #712 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $56,762, a figure that reflects LA's regional labor market and the institution's concentration in health and public-service fields, where starting salaries tend to be moderate but career stability is strong. Access sits in the 60.6 percentile and affordability in the 74.3 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility rounding out the composite at the 71.3 percentile.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana's published cost of attendance is $25,431. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $11,693, middle-income families pay around $12,549, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,077.
Azimuth ranks Northwestern State University of Louisiana #367 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Northwestern State's affordability profile reflects its public tuition structure and need-based aid reach. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and need-based scholarships help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,900, and private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,762, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,762, placing Northwestern State University of Louisiana in the 31.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,064 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Northwestern State University of Louisiana in the 73.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Northwestern State University of Louisiana #712 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to LA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential in the young-adult age range.
The dominant program family at Northwestern State University of Louisiana is Health, which shapes the institution's overall earnings profile and labor-market alignment. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest graduate cohort with the strongest earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's aggregate return story.
Nursing, with 318 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $86,608, is among the largest programs by scale; Azimuth ranks Nursing #136 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Business Administration and General Studies round out the core of the program mix, with 118 and 117 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,927 and $47,652, respectively.
Among the highest-earning programs, Psychology, General and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions offer meaningful early-career upside, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,492 and $66,559.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
318 graduates
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
17 graduates
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
25 graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
86 graduates
Information Science/Studies
33 graduates
Northwestern State University of Louisiana's program mix is anchored in health and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with its regional public university identity in northwest Louisiana. Health represents the largest share of degree output, with Business accounting for 16% of graduates, followed by Arts at 5% and Education at 3%.
Across 28 programs, 21 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, collectively serving roughly 1,396 students annually in the Azimuth coverage set. The program combining the broadest enrollment scale with strong earnings outcomes is Nursing, which anchors the institution's economic profile.
Among the most popular programs, Nursing program graduates 318 students with median earnings of $86,608 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #136 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration and General Studies also enroll substantial cohorts of 118 and 117 graduates respectively, with four-year median earnings of $51,927 and $47,652, reflecting the institution's strength in health and applied fields that feed directly into regional labor markets.
The highest-earning programs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana are concentrated in clinical and applied health pathways — fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school continuation. Nursing leads with median earnings of $86,608 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #136 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions and Accounting follow with median earnings of $66,559 and $60,861 respectively, each representing high-mobility pathways with stable regional and national hiring demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these health-oriented program families align with long-run labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbus State University Similar quality tier (#15313 ranked) | GA | 99% | $44,544 | #15313 | Compare |
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Similar quality tier in Southwest (#15306 ranked) | OK | 76% | $45,079 | #15306 | Compare |
University Of Idaho Similar quality tier (#15303 ranked) | ID | 76% | $54,670 | #15303 | Compare |
University Of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Similar quality tier (#15321 ranked) | PR | 35% | $34,409 | #15321 | Compare |
University Of Northern Iowa Similar quality tier (#15300 ranked) | IA | 93% | $55,177 | #15300 | Compare |
