Nicholls State University
#2 Best Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana- Graduation Rate
- 54% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,454 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,947 B-
- 24% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 91% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.2 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana.
Every $1 spent returns $21.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,047,029.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Social mobility rate of 2.86% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Nicholls State University Matters
Nicholls State University is a public university in Thibodaux, LA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 4,737
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Humanities
Why students choose Nicholls State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 91% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 934–1196. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,947 a year after grants and scholarships — 24% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,454 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $22,675 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 12% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.40 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nicholls State University, with an enrollment of 4,737 students and an acceptance rate of 91%, is an inviting option for those seeking a supportive environment to pursue their studies. This school is a good fit for students interested in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Psychology, and Education. The diverse range of programs allows students to explore their interests and prepare for various career paths.
After graduation, Nicholls alumni can expect to earn around $45,454 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who engage deeply with their studies and take advantage of networking opportunities. Affordability also plays a role in this equation, as students can expect a net price of about $12,947 after financial aid, making it a relatively accessible option.
When considering the financial aspect, students typically graduate with a median debt of $22,675. This manageable debt load, combined with the supportive community at Nicholls, helps students thrive. Those who do well here often take advantage of the university’s resources and actively participate in campus life, setting them up for success both during and after their college experience.
Rankings
- #2 Best Bachelor's Programs in Louisiana
- #2 Best Master's Programs in Louisiana
- #2 Best Nursing Colleges in Louisiana
- #2 Best Education Colleges in Louisiana
- #3 Best Colleges in Louisiana
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Louisiana
- #4 Best Business Colleges in Louisiana
- #5 Best Psychology Colleges in Louisiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Nicholls State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Nicholls State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Nicholls State University, located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1090
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 934–1196
- ACT Range
- 19–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,998
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.55
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
- Applicants
- 2,289
- Admitted
- 2,253
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Nicholls State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Nicholls State University is $9,242, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,947. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,714 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,675 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,149
- Out-of-State
- $9,242
- Avg Net Price
- $12,947
- Median Debt
- $22,675
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 38%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,714
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,527
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,139
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,954
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Nicholls State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Nicholls State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Nicholls State University earn a median of $45,454, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,829
- 8 Years
- $42,544
- 10 Years
- $45,454
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.5x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (250)
- 22%
- 100% (250)
- 22%
- 100% (250)
- 22%
- 100% (250)
- 22%
How Nicholls Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Nicholls State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Nicholls State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,947/year ($51,788 total). Graduates earn $45,454 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,098,817 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,047,029 (21.2× your investment). The median debt is $22,675, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $51,788
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,098,817
- Net Return
- $1,047,029
- ROI Multiple
- 21.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,947
- Median Debt
- $22,675
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Nicholls State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Nicholls State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.86%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.86%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $94,834
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $123,952
- Investment Income
- $-2,918,744
Top Programs
The fields Nicholls State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 22% $71,327 early-career
- Business & Marketing 18% $44,889 early-career
- Psychology 7% $29,935 early-career
- Humanities 7% $32,603 early-career
- Education 5% $46,679 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $19,799 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 4% $32,078 early-career
- Social Sciences 2% $37,207 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Nicholls State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Nicholls State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Nicholls State University, located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Nicholls State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Nicholls State University is $9,242, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,947. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,714 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,675 in federal student loans.
Is Nicholls State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Nicholls State University earn a median of $45,454, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Nicholls State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Nicholls State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.86%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Nicholls State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Nicholls State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Nicholls State University.
- The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, TN · Close peer54% grad $44,213 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe, LA · Close peer52% grad $46,769 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- McNeese State UniversityLake Charles, LA · Close peer49% grad $46,453 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA · Close peer44% grad $47,021 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Close peer48% grad $45,344 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of North AlabamaFlorence, AL · Close peer54% grad $45,415 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Nicholls State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Nicholls State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note