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McNeese State University

McNeese State University is a public campus in Lake Charles proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. International students are a visible presence at McNeese State University — 7.4% of its 5,005 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$8,431

family income
under $30k

$8,219

$30–48k

$12,263

$48–75k

$15,353

$75–110k

$17,328

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$12,4932023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at McNeese State University rose from $6,977 (2008) to $12,493 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$6,977
2009	$6,897
2010	$6,702
2011	$7,651
2012	$8,515
2013	$9,370
2014	$9,485
2015	$10,722
2016	$10,977
2017	$10,788
2018	$12,267
2019	$10,759
2020	$10,161
2021	$10,768
2022	$11,257
2023	$12,493

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$22,8102024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at McNeese State University rose from $12,137 (2009) to $22,810 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$12,137
2010	$12,469
2011	$12,959
2012	$13,889
2013	$14,823
2014	$15,951
2015	$16,571
2016	$17,940
2017	$17,675
2018	$18,978
2019	$19,917
2020	$19,489
2021	$21,296
2022	$20,355
2023	$21,168
2024	$22,810

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$2,472	$9,062
2001	$2,511	$8,851
2002	$2,544	$8,684
2003	$2,860	$8,926
2004	$3,098	$9,164
2005	$3,190	$10,256
2006	$3,246	$9,312
2007	$3,262	$9,328
2008	$3,246	$9,312
2013	$5,701	$16,603
2014	$6,334	$17,404
2015	$7,290	$18,365
2016	$7,310	$18,385
2017	$7,920	$15,958
2018	$7,860	$15,898
2019	$8,102	$16,140
2020	$8,382	$16,420
2021	$8,380	$16,418
2022	$8,440	$9,940
2023	$8,460	$9,960

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

McNeese State University reports tuition of $8,489 for in-state students and $9,989 for out-of-state students. Check McNeese State University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 5,005 undergrads, McNeese State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

47% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at McNeese State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

47%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at McNeese State University rose from 24.6% (entered 1991) to 47% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	24.6%
1992 cohort	25.2%
1993 cohort	28%
1994 cohort	27.7%
1995 cohort	28.6%
1996 cohort	26.5%
1997 cohort	26.1%
1998 cohort	29%
1999 cohort	31.4%
2000 cohort	30.1%
2001 cohort	34.6%
2002 cohort	36.4%
2003 cohort	35.1%
2004 cohort	35.1%
2005 cohort	37.3%
2006 cohort	37.7%
2007 cohort	38.2%
2008 cohort	41.2%
2009 cohort	41.1%
2010 cohort	42.1%
2011 cohort	42.4%
2012 cohort	45.2%
2013 cohort	46.6%
2014 cohort	43.5%
2015 cohort	42.2%
2016 cohort	46.5%
2017 cohort	52%
2018 cohort	47%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$9,898	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$10,413	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$9,755	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$8,358	$2,889
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$9,965	$3,400
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$10,196	$2,750
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$9,681	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$9,820	$2,713
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$10,645	$3,105
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$11,563	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$11,000	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$11,657	$5,480
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$13,750	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$15,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$17,720	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$18,375	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$19,250	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$19,500	$6,459
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$19,500	$7,595
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$20,562	$7,989
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$21,751	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$22,534	$7,250
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$23,000	$8,250

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$38,713

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$41,254

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$46,453

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

McNeese State University admitted 3,054 of 3,902 applicants in Fall 2024. The 78.3% rate describes that application pool.

78.3%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $8,460 in-state tuition · 2023–24 5,005 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 940–11981600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, McNeese State University received 3,902 applications and admitted 3,054 (78.3%), with 1,166 enrolling.

McNeese State University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For McNeese State University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 490–610 and Math was 450–588 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 940–1198 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	490	530	610
SAT Math	450	520	588
ACT Composite	18	21	23

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

78.3%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	85.6%
Fall 2002	84.4%
Fall 2003	88.3%
Fall 2004	88.5%
Fall 2005	82.1%
Fall 2006	78.6%
Fall 2007	78%
Fall 2008	76.2%
Fall 2009	77.3%
Fall 2010	67.7%
Fall 2011	68.5%
Fall 2012	68.7%
Fall 2013	61.5%
Fall 2014	75.3%
Fall 2015	82%
Fall 2016	63.7%
Fall 2017	62.2%
Fall 2018	70.3%
Fall 2019	80.7%
Fall 2020	63.3%
Fall 2021	68.8%
Fall 2022	71.2%
Fall 2023	67.5%
Fall 2024	78.3%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

940–1198Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2009	920	1130
Fall 2010	890	1160
Fall 2011	910	1120
Fall 2012	970	1180
Fall 2013	940	1110
Fall 2014	920	1150
Fall 2015	910	1110
Fall 2016	890	1110
Fall 2017	1020	1220
Fall 2018	970	1140
Fall 2019	1010	1240
Fall 2020	1050	1240
Fall 2021	990	1170
Fall 2022	970	1180
Fall 2023	810	1120
Fall 2024	940	1198

IPEDS Fall 2009–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

18–23Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	17	22
Fall 2002	18	23
Fall 2003	17	22
Fall 2004	17	22
Fall 2005	17	22
Fall 2006	18	23
Fall 2007	19	23
Fall 2008	18	23
Fall 2009	19	23
Fall 2010	19	23
Fall 2011	20	24
Fall 2012	20	24
Fall 2013	20	24
Fall 2014	20	24
Fall 2015	20	24
Fall 2016	20	24
Fall 2017	20	25
Fall 2018	20	25
Fall 2019	20	24
Fall 2020	20	25
Fall 2021	20	24
Fall 2022	18	24
Fall 2023	18	24
Fall 2024	18	23

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

5,005Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at McNeese State University fell from 6,937 (Fall 2002) to 5,005 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	6,937
Fall 2003	7,278
Fall 2004	7,694
Fall 2005	7,617
Fall 2006	7,324
Fall 2007	6,806
Fall 2008	6,856
Fall 2009	7,017
Fall 2010	7,157
Fall 2011	7,239
Fall 2012	7,066
Fall 2013	6,777
Fall 2014	6,597
Fall 2015	6,511
Fall 2016	6,083
Fall 2017	5,956
Fall 2018	6,022
Fall 2019	5,774
Fall 2020	5,825
Fall 2021	5,202
Fall 2022	4,928
Fall 2023	4,846
Fall 2024	5,005

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

68%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at McNeese State University has held near 68% from Fall 2003 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	69%
Fall 2004 cohort	67%
Fall 2005 cohort	67%
Fall 2006 cohort	64%
Fall 2007 cohort	68%
Fall 2008 cohort	67%
Fall 2009 cohort	70%
Fall 2010 cohort	68%
Fall 2011 cohort	68%
Fall 2012 cohort	69%
Fall 2013 cohort	70%
Fall 2014 cohort	67%
Fall 2015 cohort	66%
Fall 2016 cohort	68%
Fall 2017 cohort	70%
Fall 2018 cohort	70%
Fall 2019 cohort	72%
Fall 2020 cohort	69%
Fall 2021 cohort	69%
Fall 2022 cohort	71%
Fall 2023 cohort	68%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about McNeese State University

34.6% of McNeese State University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes McNeese State University as a primarily nonresidential campus — most of its 5,005 undergraduates live off campus, and 68.4% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

McNeese State University's SAT section-percentile sums are 940–1198 — their midpoint is near the LA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on McNeese State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How McNeese State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

McNeese State University78.3%

Louisiana median77.7%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

McNeese State University$8,489

Louisiana median$10,272

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

McNeese State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

McNeese State University$46,453

Louisiana median$47,477

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

McNeese State University, Louisiana and national reference values
Metric & basis	McNeese State University	Louisiana median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	78.3%	77.7%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$8,489	$10,272	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$46,453	$47,477	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For McNeese State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

McNeese State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 18 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	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

These 18 fields listed for McNeese State University measure earnings after completion. The $46,453 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 14 additional McNeese State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does McNeese State University report?

McNeese State University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 940–1198 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is McNeese State University's acceptance rate?

78.3% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 3,054 admitted from 3,902 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 earnings data does McNeese State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $46,453. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

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: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.