Getting in
McNeese State University admits 78% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1087 out of 1600 (midpoints: 525 in reading and writing, 555 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 22 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Louisiana | $9,084 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $10,584 |
| Room and meals on campus | $11,016 |
| Books and supplies | $1,385 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $21,410 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $11,228 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 25% below the median net price of colleges in Louisiana on this site ($14,924). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $9,708 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $8,834 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $9,793 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $12,797 |
| Above $110,000 | $17,205 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | LA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 68% | 71% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 47% | 49% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $50,152 | $50,152 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $21,383 | $22,246 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Louisiana and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
41% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 34% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 62% women and 38% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 10 of the 34 colleges in Louisiana on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 2,032.
Other colleges in Louisiana of a similar size
- University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe, public
- Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux, public
- University of New OrleansNew Orleans, public
- Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, public
- Southern University and A & M CollegeBaton Rouge, public
- Louisiana State University at AlexandriaAlexandria, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of McNeese State University?
McNeese State University admits 78% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at McNeese State University?
Published tuition and fees are $9,084 a year for students from Louisiana and $10,584 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of McNeese State University?
47% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.