McNeese State University
PublicLake Charles, LA
McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, LA, is a public mid-sized school, enrolling around 5,005 students. Admissions are not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants here -- roughly 78% of applicants get in. Its highest-earning reported major is Engineering, General (Engineering), where graduates report median earnings of $107,319/year four years out. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.
Admissions
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $1,500 more per year in tuition and fees (1.2x the in-state rate).
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
McNeese State University takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Academic Common Market
Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia can pay in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in their home state offers. You need admission to that major and approval from your home state's coordinator.
Where do you stand against McNeese State University's numbers?
Check your chances hereSee full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what McNeese State University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is McNeese State University's acceptance rate?
McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA admits approximately 78% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for McNeese State University?
Admitted students at McNeese State University typically score between 940–1198 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for McNeese State University?
Admitted students at McNeese State University typically score between 18–23 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does McNeese State University cost?
McNeese State University's total cost of attendance is reported at $22,810 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does McNeese State University offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- McNeese State University takes part in the Academic Common Market, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at McNeese State University?
For 2024-25, McNeese State University's published tuition and required fees were $9,989 for out-of-state students and $8,489 for in-state students -- $1,500 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
Does McNeese State University require students to live on campus?
No -- McNeese State University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Similar colleges in LA
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University of New Orleans
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Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
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University of Louisiana at Monroe
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New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
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