Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Northwestern State graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early careers, with median earnings rising from $39,485 six years after enrollment to $43,941 at eight years and $47,021 at ten years. This represents 19.1% growth between the six-year and ten-year measurement points, indicating consistent career advancement for graduates.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings fall below the peer average for similar institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Moderate debt load. Repaying $25,000 requires planning but is achievable.
Northwestern State graduates carry a median debt load of $25,000, which falls below the peer median of $21,105 by $3,895, indicating controlled borrowing relative to similar institutions. Student debt spans from $5,500 at the 25th percentile to $25,000 at the 75th percentile, showing that half of borrowers graduate with between $5,500 and $25,000 in loans.
Northwestern State University ranks at the 53.1st percentile for return on investment, demonstrating typical performance relative to educational costs nationwide. Graduates earn $5,233 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing the university at the 74.5th percentile for value-added performance—a notable achievement given the institution's accessible admission standards.
Approximately 28.6% of Northwestern State graduates continue to graduate or professional study, with high confidence in this estimate based on program...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Northwestern State's strongest earnings outcomes concentrate in health sciences and technology programs, with Information Science graduates earning $83,967 and Adult Health Nursing graduates earning $71,773. Chemical Engineering Technology produces graduates earning $62,991, demonstrating the university's effectiveness in technical education.
These high-performing programs drive the university's overall return performance, while more accessible programs like General Studies ($43,938) and Business Administration ($47,068) provide solid middle-class outcomes. The earnings variation across programs allows Northwestern State to serve students with different career aspirations while maintaining programs that deliver premium outcomes for those pursuing technical and healthcare careers.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Northwestern State's earnings distribution shows meaningful variation in career outcomes, with graduates earning between $29,131 at the 25th percentile and $67,829 at the 75th percentile. This 2.3:1 ratio reflects program diversity and career pathway differences across the university's academic portfolio.
