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McNeese State University
McNeese State University says yes to 78.3% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $46,453 median earnings.
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McNeese State University sits in Lake Charles proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 7.4% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Engineering, General, where graduates median $107,319 four years out. 34.6% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 5,005 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 68.4% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 810 and 1120 — below the LA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on McNeese State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, McNeese State University received 3,294 applications and admitted 2,225 (67.5%), with 1,063 enrolling.
Test scores are a required part of every application here. That makes the 810–1120 range unusually informative: everyone admitted is in the data.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 430 | 500 | 560 |
| SAT Math | 380 | 480 | 560 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How McNeese State University compares
| McNeese State University | Louisiana median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 78.3% | 78.3% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,489 | $10,272 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $46,453 | $47,477 | $53,781 |
At $46,453, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($47,477). Look at McNeese State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,489 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $9,989. For non-residents, McNeese State University's $9,989 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 5,005 undergrads, McNeese State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
47% graduate within six years. Roughly 53% don't — ask a McNeese State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at McNeese State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Engineering, General | $107,319 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $85,928 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $67,331 |
| Computer Science | $64,834 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $62,705 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,532 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $59,777 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $51,257 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $48,195 |
| Sociology | $47,592 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,166 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,223 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $45,669 |
| Marketing | $44,589 |
| Agriculture, General | $43,901 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $43,828 |
| Psychology, General | $37,416 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $34,891 |
Median earnings for these 18 McNeese State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $46,453 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 14 additional McNeese State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for McNeese State University?
Among the admitted class, the middle 50% scored 810–1120 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 78.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is McNeese State University's acceptance rate?
67.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,225 admitted from 3,294 applicants.
How much does McNeese State University cost?
In-state tuition is $8,489; out-of-state students pay $9,989. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do McNeese State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $46,453 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Louisiana
- Louisiana Christian University — 77.2% admitted
- University of New Orleans — 74.3% admitted
- University of Louisiana at Monroe — 84.8% admitted
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College — 73.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.