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Nicholls State University

#362 in US ranking Thibodaux, LA
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Nicholls State University award

Cost

Cost / year
$23,775
Tuition & fees
$8,149
Avg. aid
$7,784
Receiving aid
95%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
91%
SAT range
934–1196
ACT range
19–24

Outcomes

Graduation rate
54%
Median salary
$45,577
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Nicholls State University?

Nicholls State University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, to award degrees. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is separate from any specialized accreditation or approval attached to an individual program.

Students considering a regulated profession should check the accreditation and Louisiana licensing requirements for their specific major, particularly in fields such as nursing and teacher preparation. Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and is often considered when other colleges review transfer credit. It does not, by itself, guarantee that a particular course will transfer or that a graduate will qualify for a professional license.

What are the admission requirements at Nicholls State University?

First-year applicants generally apply through Nicholls State University's admissions process and provide a high school transcript showing graduation, or an accepted equivalent credential. The university is not an open-admission institution: applicants must meet applicable academic eligibility rules.

Institutional admissions reporting for 2024-25 lists the secondary-school record, GPA, class rank, college-preparatory coursework, and admission test scores among the materials considered or required. Because testing rules can change, applicants should check the requirements for their intended entry term before registering for an ACT or SAT test. In the reported entering class, ACT submissions were much more common than SAT submissions; that describes applicant behavior, not a preference applicants must follow. Recommendations were not listed as a general requirement.

International applicants may need to demonstrate English-language proficiency and meet additional transcript-evaluation requirements. Applicants to particular majors may face separate prerequisites or selection processes after general university admission. In the reported first-year admissions cycle, Nicholls admitted about 91% of applicants, but that institution-wide figure should not be read as an admission rate for a selective program.

What are the application fees and waivers at Nicholls State University?

The reported undergraduate application fee for Nicholls State University was $20 in 2024-25. An application fee pays for processing an application; it is not an enrollment deposit or a charge toward tuition.

Applicants should confirm the amount displayed in the current application before paying, since fees can differ by applicant type or change between admission cycles. Anyone who needs a fee waiver should ask admissions about eligibility and the required request procedure before submitting payment; paying a fee does not itself establish eligibility for a refund.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Nicholls State University?

Army ROTC is an option associated with Nicholls State University. Students interested in participating should confirm the current unit arrangement, course availability, and enrollment steps with the university's ROTC contact before building it into a degree plan.

ROTC participation, scholarship eligibility, and an obligation to serve are related but distinct matters. A student may be able to explore introductory military-science coursework without having the same commitment as a contracted cadet; scholarships and commissioning have additional eligibility and service conditions. Students seeking Air Force or Navy ROTC should verify a current cross-enrollment arrangement rather than assume those branches operate at Nicholls.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Nicholls State University?

Nicholls State University accepts transfer applications and generally considers college credit earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer admission and transfer-credit acceptance are separate decisions: a student can qualify for admission without having every previous course applied to the intended degree.

Transfer applicants should submit official transcripts from each college attended and check whether their amount of prior college work triggers additional first-year documentation requirements. GPA thresholds, prerequisites, and deadlines can vary by applicant circumstances and major. Nicholls also reports accepting certain CLEP subject-examination credit and ACE-recommended credit, subject to its evaluation rules.

Before committing to a program, a transfer student should request an official assessment showing which credits satisfy general education, major, and elective requirements. This matters especially for sequenced majors: a course accepted as elective credit may not replace a required nursing, education, or business course. Students should also check the catalog's residency rule - the amount of coursework that must be completed through Nicholls to earn its degree.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Nicholls State University?

Students interested in studying abroad should check Nicholls State University's current international-program offerings and obtain academic approval before making travel or enrollment arrangements. Destinations, program formats, and availability can change from year to year.

The key question is not only where a student can study, but how the proposed courses will count toward a Nicholls degree. Students should establish the credit-approval process, program cost, travel requirements, and whether their particular scholarships or federal aid can be used. A faculty-led trip, exchange, and independently arranged program may have different approval and billing rules; one should not be assumed to work like another.

Nicholls State University Admissions Factors

SAT range
934–1196
4001600
ACT range
19–24
136
Acceptance rate
91%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
91%
Louisiana
78%
US
78%

35% of admitted students enrolled (1,082 of 3,059)

Nicholls State University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 3,369
Admission
Total: 3,059
Enrolled
Total: 1,082
Women
Men

How to Apply to Nicholls State University

Regular application deadline

July 25

Application fee

$20

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Nicholls State University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 1,033
Out-of-state: 54
International: 33

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 1,120
Transfer: 211

Nicholls State University Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1134

Median composite ACT score

23

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

82%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

3%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

No

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Nicholls State University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Data last updated on November 5, 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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