| Location: | Southeast |
| Setting: | Small Town Setting |
| Type: | Public |
| Size: | Large (5,000 to 10,000 Undergrad) |
| Mascot: | Demons |
| Nickname: | NSU |
Northwestern State University is a responsive, student-oriented institution that is committed to the creation, dissemination, and acquisition of knowledge through teaching, research, and service. The University maintains as its highest priority excellence in teaching in graduate and undergraduate programs.
Northwestern State University prepares its students to become productive members of society and promotes economic development and improvements in the quality of life of the citizens in its region.
Northwestern State University, often called NSU, is a public four-year university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.
NSU was founded in 1884 as the Louisiana State Normal School to train teachers. NSU was the first school in Louisiana to offer degree programs in nursing and business education. It gained university status in 1970 during the administration of President Arnold R. Kilpatrick, a Northwestern alumnus who served from 1966-1978.
NSU was one of the first six colleges to enter into NASA's Joint Venture Program ("JOVE"). Students work with NASA scientists to help analyze data and do research for Nasa and the 1996 Space Shuttle Columbia shuttle mission.
NSU also hosts Louisiana's designated honors college in the liberal arts and sciences, called the Louisiana Scholars' College. The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts is also located on the campus. It was a brainchild of former State Representative Jimmy D. Long of Natchitoches, who also attended NSU.
NSU currently offers more than 50 degree programs and complete accreditation of all of its accreditable degree programs. Fall 2005 total enrollment was 9,847, a decline from Fall 2004's record enrollment of 10,546 that university administrators said was due to the application and enforcement of new admissions standards. NSU also claims more than 70,000 alumni.
Its student-run weekly newspaper, The Current Sauce, was founded in 1914. Its annual student-run yearbook is called The Potpourri. There is also a student-run radio station, KNWD The Demon 91.7FM, and a faculty-administrated and student-operated local television station, NSU22.
NSU's literary magazine is called The Argus. It is student-run and published during the spring semester. The magazine content is provided by competitions in various fields of writing and artwork.
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| Percent of Students International: | 0% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 19% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Southland Conference) Basketball (Southland Conference) Baseball (Southland Conference) Track (Southland Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | In-State | Out-of-State | |
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 3,433 | $ 9,511 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 2,240 | $ 8,318 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 1,153 | $ 1,153 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 640 | 53% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 1,294 | 35% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 771 | 31% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 830 | 56% | |
Any Aid: |
90% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 77% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 9% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 448, Math: 450 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 573, Math: 570 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 89% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 17, Verbal: 17, Math: 16 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 22, Verbal: 24, Math: 21 |
| Application Fee: | $ 20.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
