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Nicholls State University (NSU) is a public higher education institution located in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Founded in 1948, it is part of the University of Louisiana System. It’s also the only university that serves the Bayou Region and capitalizes on the area’s rich culture by offering distinctive academic programs in culinary arts, geomatics, maritime management, marine and environmental science, petroleum services, and safety technology. The school is known to serve a large population of first-generation college students and is regularly designated as friendly to military members and their families.
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Overview of Nicholls State University (NSU)
NSU is dedicated to fostering intellectual achievement, personal development, and social responsibility. It is also committed to the human dignity and worth of every single person. With a strong focus on encouraging the development of good character and responsible citizenship, Nicholls State University’s role extends beyond instruction. Those enrolled also have an obligation to the welfare of the community as a whole and are held to the highest standard of personal conduct. The school’s key values include dignity, excellence, wholeness, inclusiveness, and compassion.
The total enrollment is 6,780, with approximately 5,500 pursuing undergraduate degrees. The university employs 267 full-time and 58 part-time faculty members, all of whom focus solely on instruction. This makes the student-to-faculty ratio 16:1, which is better than the national average and means those enrolled are likely to have easy access to professors. There are also 25 graduate assistants maintained by the institution who provide instructional assistance and support.
General Information
School Type | Public |
---|---|
Campus Setting | City: Small |
Campus Housing | Yes |
Student Faculty Ratio | 16:1 |
Graduation Rate | 50% |
Year Founded | 1948 |
Student Enrollment
Total Students6,225
5,567
658
Undergraduate Student
Male 2,004
Female 3,563
Graduate Student
Male 237
Female 421
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Top Rankings For Nicholls State University
NSU Acceptance Rate and Admissions
APPLICATIONS2,167
ACCEPTANCE2,102
Acceptance Rate97%
Enrollment 946
Admissions | |
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Application Fee | $20 |
High School GPA | Required |
High School Rank | Required |
High School Transcripts | Required |
College Prep Courses | Required |
Recommendations | NA |
SAT/ACT | Required |
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | Required |
Application Deadline | August 1 |
Common Application Accepted | No |
NSU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid
Once registered to attend Nicholls State University, students are immediately indebted to the university. However, the total paid varies depending on residential status, degree program type, number of credit hours taken, and term.
Nicholls State University considers any undergraduate student enrolled in 12 or more credit hours to be attending the school full-time. While fees are subject to change, the cost of attendance for residents during typical fall and spring terms is $3,988, assuming a 15-credit hour course load. Out-of-state students will pay a slightly higher rate of $5,435 per semester for the same number of credit hours. Fees typically include the cost of registration, building use, instructional technology, operations, and an energy surcharge. Also included is the Colonel Book Bundle Program, which ensures that the bookstore will provide undergraduate students access to all required course materials by the first day of class. This is an optional program, however.
Graduate students are charged at a different rate. Tuition and fees for nine credit hours costs $4,042 per semester for in-state students. The same number of graduate credit hours costs $4,588 per semester for non-residents per semester.
Students are also responsible for paying for housing and meals. Nicholls State University does offer room and board through the Office of Residential Living, although students can opt to live off campus as well. On average, 1,200 students live on campus at a time. The cost of housing ranges from $2,181 to $4,554 per semester and meal plans are charged at rates between $1,088 and $2,343 per semester, with less expensive options also available.
Financial aid is also available for new and continuing students. Nicholls State University offers assistance in the forms of grants, scholarships, loans, and employment opportunities. Regardless of income, residential status, and academic credentials, all incoming students are encouraged for apply for assistance, with counselors available to assist with process. The institution uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for assistance. It also provides numerous part-time job opportunities in order to help students finance their college education and gain educational benefits, as well as helping them explore career options, discover strengths, develop relationships, make decisions, and learn responsibility.
As of the 2020-2021 academic year, 98% of beginning undergraduate students enrolled at Nicholls State University received some form of financial aid. While the majority of assistance came in the form of scholarships and grants, 50% of these students still required student loans to attend.
Average net price | 2020-2021 |
---|---|
Net Price | $12,907 |
Average Total Aid | $8,215 |
Students Receiving Financial Aid | 98% |
Room & Board | $10,408 |
Sticker Price
- Tuition In-State - $7,946
- Tuition Out-of-State - $9,039
- Books and Supplies - $1,300
- Room & Board - $10,408
- Other - $4,362
Academics
Nicholls State University is committed to providing student-centered, values-rich, co-curricular educational experience. The institution’s academic life is defined by faculty members and students turning knowledge into action, as well as the school’s vast access to world-class partnerships, policy-research initiatives, and one-of-a-kind learning opportunities.
Students can choose from 107 programs of study in the following colleges and schools:
- College of Nursing
- College of Business Administration
- College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
- College of Sciences and Technology
- College of Liberal Arts
- Chef John Folse Culinary Institute
Nicholls State University also offers some online degree programs designed to fit busier and more demanding schedules. Students can choose from associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees that are offered 100% virtually. Distance learners are still included in the university’s academic environment, benefitting from faculty who are deeply committed to teaching.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Nicholls State University had a first-year undergraduate retention rate of 70% for full-time students and 45% for part-time students as of fall 2020. Notably, the national average is 68%. This data indicates that most students enrolled at the university were satisfied with their academic and extracurricular experiences and chose to return for a second year.
The overall graduation rate for full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking students who began their studies in fall 2015 was 50%, with 24% of tracked students transferring out before their final academic year. This data is significant, as it indicates the number of students who successfully earned their degrees or certificates within 150% of the standard completion time. While 49% of these students graduated within six years, only 26% managed to complete requirements within four years.
Nicholls State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC), which is recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The institution can award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and specialist degrees. Additionally, the institution holds many academic, college, departmental, and program accreditations.
Retention
Rate
4 year
Graduation
Rate
6 year
Graduation
Rate
Student Population Total
Student Population 6,225
5,567
658
Most Popular Programs & Majors
(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)
Health Professions and Related Programs | 263 Total Graduates / 25% |
---|---|
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 148 Graduates |
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 95 Graduates |
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other | 20 Graduates |
All Business Majors | 253 Total Graduates / 24% |
Business Administration and Management, General | 126 Graduates |
Accounting | 46 Graduates |
Management Information Systems, General | 32 Graduates |
Marketing/Marketing Management, General | 26 Graduates |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 113 Total Graduates / 11% |
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 113 Graduates |
All Education Majors | 73 Total Graduates / 7% |
Elementary Education and Teaching | 34 Graduates |
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs | 21 Graduates |
Secondary Education and Teaching | 16 Graduates |
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 2 Graduates |
All Psychology Majors | 67 Total Graduates / 6% |
Psychology, General | 67 Graduates |
All Other Diplomas | 26% |
Outcome & Salary
Nicholls State University sends an alumni survey to both recent and long-term graduates in order to collect employment and salary data, as well as measure satisfaction with campus facilities, skills gained during college, and overall student experience. While 62% of respondents in 2015 expressed that their college experience improved their quality of life, only 38% rated their preparation as excellent. Approximately 78% being employed full-time, with 70% employed in their field of study. PayScale reports an average base salary of $66,000 for Nicholls State University graduates.
Graduates Salary | |
---|---|
College Grads Early Career Salary | $47,400 |
College Grads Average Salary | $66,000 |
College Grads Mid Career Salary | $91,000 |
Return on Investment (ROI) | |
---|---|
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $660,000 |
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $1,570,000 |
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year | $51,628 |
10 Year Projected ROI | $608,372 |
20 Year Projected ROI | $1,518,372 |
No College Education Salary Comparison | |
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National Average Salary | $38,792 |
10 Year Projected Income | $387,920 |
20 Year Projected Income | $775,840 |
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