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McNeese State University

#642 in US ranking Lake Charles, LA
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$21,410
Tuition & fees
$11,267
Avg. aid
$8,418
Receiving aid
93%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
78%
SAT range
940–1198
ACT range
18–23

Outcomes

Graduation rate
47%
Median salary
$46,563
1 yr after graduation

What does McNeese State University offer in terms of athletics?

McNeese competes in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Southland Conference. Its varsity teams are known as the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Representative sports include football, baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball, and track and field.

Varsity participation involves team selection and NCAA eligibility rules; it is distinct from club sports, intramural competition, and recreational fitness. Students who want to play casually should check current campus recreation offerings rather than assume a listed varsity sport has an open-entry equivalent. Prospective varsity athletes should discuss recruiting, roster availability, and any possible aid with the relevant coaching and athletics staff; admission to McNeese does not guarantee a team place or athletic scholarship.

What student groups and Associations are available at McNeese State University?

McNeese students can participate in organizations connected to student representation, academic interests, culture, service, and the arts. The Student Government Association and International Students Association are two identified examples.

The university also reports student opportunities involving theater, choral music, a marching band, and a student-run newspaper. These activities differ in their membership requirements and whether they operate as recognized organizations, academic ensembles, or campus publications. Because club rosters and activity levels change, students looking for a particular professional society, cultural group, fraternity or sorority, or service organization should check the current student-organization directory and meeting schedule.

Who studies at McNeese State University?

McNeese enrolled 6,241 students in the reported institutional count. Its student body is predominantly drawn from Louisiana: reported geographic data place 84% of students in-state, with 7% from other U.S. states and 9% from outside the United States.

The reported incoming group included 1,166 first-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates and 369 transfer-in students. That mix is relevant to applicants deciding whether they will arrive alongside other new college students or join an established program as a transfer. The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 20 to 1, an institution-wide measure that does not describe the size of any particular class or clinical group.

Enrollment counts and demographic categories describe who is recorded as attending, not what any student's social experience will be. Applicants seeking a better sense of their likely peer group should examine the enrollment and support arrangements for their intended program, especially if they plan to study part time, transfer, or commute.

How does student life look like at McNeese State University?

Everyday student life at McNeese combines a residential campus with opportunities for students who travel to class from the surrounding region. How involved a student becomes will depend partly on class and work schedules, not only on whether the student lives on campus.

Students can connect through campus events, recreation, performances, and shared academic spaces. Reported support services include a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling. New students may find it useful to identify an adviser, learn the campus activity calendar, and locate wellness services early in the term - particularly if they are balancing study with employment or a commute.

What libraries are available to students at McNeese State University?

Frazar Memorial Library is McNeese's main campus library. It provides a place for coursework and research, and students can reserve study rooms.

For a research assignment, students should look beyond the library's physical collection to its catalog, academic databases, journals, research assistance, and options for obtaining material not held locally. Access to licensed online resources may require a university login away from campus. The library is not reported to maintain a study area open 24 hours a day throughout the week, so students who need late-night space should check current building and service hours rather than assume round-the-clock access.

McNeese State University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

6241

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

1155

Member of Athletic Associations

NCAA

Total staff

235 full time, 132 part time

Veterans affair office

No

McNeese State University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 5,668
Graduate: 573

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 4,921
Part-time: 1,320

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 710
Men: 445

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 251
Black or African American: 957
White: 3,047
American Indian or Alaska Native: 21
Asian: 90
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 3
Two or more races: 217
Unknown: 50

McNeese State University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NCAA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

MenMenMen

Basketball

BothBothBoth

Cross-country running

BothBothBoth

Football

MenMenMen

Golf

Both–Both

Sand volleyball

–Both–

Soccer

WomenWomenWomen

Softball

WomenWomenWomen

Table tennis

–Both–

Tennis

WomenWomenWomen

Track and field

BothBothBoth

Ultimate Frisbee

–Both–

Volleyball

WomenWomenWomen

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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