Northwestern State University of Louisiana Acceptance Rate
Natchitoches, Louisiana · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 3,194
- Admitted
- 2,994
- Yield
- 34.5%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Northwestern State University of Louisiana's acceptance rate has risen from 73% in 2014–15 to 93.7% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 3,087 to 3,194 (+3%) over that period.
Its 93.7% rate makes Northwestern State University of Louisiana more selective than about 12% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 21 tracked Louisiana schools, it is more selective than about 14%.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 34.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 3,087 | 2,253 | 73% | 1,192 |
| 2015–16 | 3,231 | 2,713 | 84% | 1,273 |
| 2016–17 | 5,180 | 3,201 | 61.8% | 1,462 |
| 2017–18 | 4,409 | 3,540 | 80.3% | 1,542 |
| 2018–19 | 4,444 | 3,643 | 82% | 1,560 |
| 2019–20 | 4,035 | 3,308 | 82% | 1,515 |
| 2020–21 | 4,290 | 4,069 | 94.8% | 1,518 |
| 2021–22 | 3,738 | 3,599 | 96.3% | 1,299 |
| 2022–23 | 2,903 | 2,843 | 97.9% | 1,020 |
| 2023–24 | 3,194 | 2,994 | 93.7% | 1,033 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 2,258 | 2,136 | 94.6% |
| Men | 918 | 842 | 91.7% |
| Unknown | 18 | 16 | 88.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 495–620 | 3% |
| SAT Math | 430–623 | |
| ACT Composite | 18–24 | 92% |
How Northwestern State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Northwestern State University of Louisiana's acceptance rate?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana's acceptance rate is 93.7% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,994 admitted of 3,194 applicants).
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana test optional?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana received 3,194 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,994.
What SAT score do you need for Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Admitted students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana typically scored 495–620 on SAT Reading/Writing and 430–623 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana getting harder to get into?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 73% in 2014–15 to 93.7% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.nsula.edu/.