Northwestern State University of Louisiana SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
866 to 1163
Half of enrolled students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1163, and one quarter below 866.
- Average composite
- 1088
- Acceptance rate
- 92.5%
- ACT range
- 18 to 24
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Natchitoches, LA
- Undergraduates
- 5,519
Northwestern State University of Louisiana SAT Scores and Admissions
About 92 out of every 100 applicants get into this school. The admission rate sits at 92.5% in the 2024-2025 data, which means Northwestern State University of Louisiana SAT scores matter less as a gatekeeper and more as a placement and scholarship signal. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 866 and 1163 on the SAT, with the average landing at 1088. That is a wide band. A student at 900 and a student at 1150 both fit comfortably inside it, which tells you the school admits across a broad range of academic profiles.
Northwestern State is a public university in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with 5,519 students enrolled. That size puts it in a specific category: big enough for a full slate of programs, small enough that classes do not disappear into 400 seat lecture halls. The section numbers show something worth noting. Reading and Writing runs from 448 to 610 among the middle half of students, while Math runs lower, from 418 to 553. So the typical admit here is stronger on the verbal side by roughly 30 to 60 points per section. On the ACT, the middle 50 percent spans 18 to 24. In the most recent federal data, testing is optional, so submitting is a choice, not a requirement.
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Northwestern State University of Louisiana SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 448 | 610 |
| Math | 418 | 553 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 866 | 1163 |
The College Board reports section percentiles, not section averages, so an average is shown for the composite only.
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
866 to 1163
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Northwestern State University of Louisiana, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with Northwestern State University of Louisiana's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into Northwestern State University of Louisiana by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, based on its reported 866 to 1163 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 720 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 720 is well below the 866 to 1163 range at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 820 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 820 falls just short of Northwestern State University of Louisiana's 25th percentile of 866. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1010 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1010 sits inside the 866 to 1163 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1160 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1160 sits inside the 866 to 1163 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1190 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1190 beats the 75th percentile at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Northwestern State University of Louisiana's Range
The two targets that matter here are 866, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1163, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 866 | To reach 1163 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Already there | +163 points | 1000 to 1200 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +63 points | 1100 to 1200 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Read the 866 to 1163 range in 3 pieces. Below 866 puts you under 3 out of 4 enrolled students. You can still get in given the 92.5% admit rate, but you may face placement testing or remedial coursework, and merit aid becomes unlikely. Since the school is test optional in the most recent federal data, a score down there is usually one to withhold. Inside the range, say 950 to 1100, you look like a typical Northwestern State student, and submitting is reasonable. Above 1163 puts you in the top 25% of the class, which is where scholarship conversations start.
The section splits shift the math. Reading and Writing sets the higher bar: its middle band runs 448 to 610, while Math runs 418 to 553. A 560 in Reading and Writing is ordinary here, but a 560 in Math beats the 75th percentile. If your composite is borderline, check which section carries it. A math heavy score goes further at this school than the same total built on verbal points.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana typically present an unweighted GPA somewhere around 3.0 to 3.5. With 92.5% of applicants getting in, the school is not filtering hard on grades, but the transcript still matters for scholarship money and for course placement once you arrive. A 3.2 with honors classes on it reads differently than a 3.2 built entirely from the easiest available schedule. Rigor counts as much as the number itself.
If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that band, or below it, the fastest offset is a strong SAT score. Grades take semesters to move. A test score can move in weeks. A student with a 2.9 GPA and an 1150 SAT presents a much stronger file here than the GPA alone suggests, because that 1150 clears the school's 1088 average and lands near the top quarter of enrolled students. The test is the one lever you can still pull senior year.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana typically present a GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Steady grades in a reasonable course load are usually enough on the GPA side of the application.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana SAT Testing Policy
Northwestern State University of Louisiana considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1015, the middle of Northwestern State University of Louisiana's range. If you are below 866, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 15, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1010+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
866 to 1010
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 866
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Northwestern State University of Louisiana's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT, alongside the 866 to 1163 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Northwestern State University of Louisiana states no preference between the two tests. The right move is to take whichever test converts higher for you, using the official concordance below, and send that one.
| ACT composite | SAT equivalent |
|---|---|
| 24 | 1160 to 1190 |
| 23 | 1130 to 1150 |
| 22 | 1100 to 1120 |
| 21 | 1060 to 1090 |
| 20 | 1030 to 1050 |
| 19 | 990 to 1020 |
| 18 | 960 to 980 |
| 17 | 920 to 950 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Northwestern State University of Louisiana's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Set 2 anchors. Scoring at or above 866 keeps you inside the enrolled range, so treat that as your floor, not your goal. Scoring at or above 1163 puts you in the top quarter of Northwestern State students, and that is the number to chase if you want merit money rather than just an acceptance letter. The gap between those 2 anchors is 297 points, which sounds huge but breaks down to manageable section targets: roughly 610 in Reading and Writing and 553 in Math gets you to the 75th percentile in each.
Start by finding out where you actually stand. Take a diagnostic to get a real baseline instead of guessing from a practice book. Then compare your baseline against the 1088 average and pick the anchor that fits your timeline. Our score plans map the week by week work between where you are and where you want to land. Your next step: take the diagnostic this week, write down your section scores, and set your target against the 866 and 1163 lines.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana admits about 925 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 5,519. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 75 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: Northwestern State University of Louisiana's 25th percentile score of 866 already beats roughly 17% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1163 sits around the 68th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to Northwestern State University of Louisiana: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Northwestern State University of Louisiana, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs Northwestern State University of Louisiana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | 866 to 1163 | 92.5% | This page |
| Southern University and A&M | 790 to 1020 | 35.1% | Harder to get into than Northwestern State University of LouisianaSAT about 109 lower |
| Dillard | 968 to 1202 | 41.9% | Harder to get into than Northwestern State University of LouisianaSAT about 71 higher |
| Grambling State | 920 to 1080 | 44.9% | Harder to get into than Northwestern State University of Louisianasimilar SAT range |
| Coppin State | 880 to 1020 | 45.8% | Harder to get into than Northwestern State University of LouisianaSAT about 64 lower |
| Louisiana State University Shreveport | 1000 to 1195 | 50.5% | Harder to get into than Northwestern State University of LouisianaSAT about 83 higher |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | 950 to 1113 | 69.0% | Harder to get into than Northwestern State University of LouisianaSAT about 17 higher |
How Recent Are These Northwestern State University of Louisiana SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 15, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Northwestern State University of Louisiana disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked Northwestern State University of Louisiana's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana's middle 50 percent SAT range is 866 to 1163. Aim for at least 866 to be competitive, and 1163 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 866 a good SAT score for Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
A 866 sits at Northwestern State University of Louisiana's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 866 to 1163. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1163 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
The average composite SAT score at Northwestern State University of Louisiana is 1088. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 866 and 1163.
Does Northwestern State University of Louisiana require SAT scores?
No. Northwestern State University of Louisiana was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is Northwestern State University of Louisiana test optional for 2026-2027?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What ACT score do you need for Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana's middle 50 percent ACT range is 18 to 24. Aim for at least 18 to be competitive and 24 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
What GPA do you need to get into Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Admitted students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is Northwestern State University of Louisiana's acceptance rate?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana admits about 92.5% of applicants, which makes it less selective. A strong SAT score still helps your application stand out, especially for selective majors, honors programs, and merit scholarships.
What are my chances of getting into Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana admits about 92.5% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 866 to 1163 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1163 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against Northwestern State University of Louisiana's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does Northwestern State University of Louisiana superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Northwestern State University of Louisiana does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 15, 2026.
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