Quad

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, LAQuad's selectivityAccessible
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

McNeese State admits about 8 in 10 applicants (78%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 47% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

78%

78%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

3,902

Admitted

3,054

Yield

38%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

940–1198

8001600
ACT middle 50%

18–23

1236
Applications +43% since fall 2014 · admit rate 75% → 78%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 5,005 undergrads, where 35% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

5K

undergrads · larger than 78% of colleges

Diversity index

0.58

Pell Grant

35%

about the median

First generation

38%

above the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FCS · Southland ConferenceStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.47 → 0.58 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is General Studies (14% of graduates). 20 students for every faculty member, more than at 90% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $5,647 a year on instruction per student.

20 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 90% of colleges

Most popular major

General Studies

14% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Engineering, General

$107.3K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

100%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$5.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $17,993 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $6.3K less than the national median. The 88% who received grants paid $12,430 on average; the other 12% paid the full sticker price of $26,280 in-state / $27,780 out-of-state.

32%

$18K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $6.3K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$26,280 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 32% of full price

Federal loans

32%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +16% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $46,453 ten years after enrolling, more than at 28% of colleges; 47% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.5 years of that salary.

47%

47%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$46.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23K

≈ $244/month for 10 years

Retention

68%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 41% → 47% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 12% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 16%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 43% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 75% to 78%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +16% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +43%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 75% → 78%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.47 → 0.58

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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University of Wisconsin-Parkside

75% admit · 2.8K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso public
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Arkansas State University

82% admit · SAT 1080 · 9.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso Southeast
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Southwestern Oklahoma State University

3.5K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    McNeese State University (2026)

    McNeese State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 159717 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything