McNeese State University (McNeese)

Public four-year university in Lake Charles, LA that costs an average of $11,228 a year after financial aid, admits 78% of applicants and graduates 47% of full-time students.

Net price / year
$11,228
Acceptance rate
78%
Graduation rate
47%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$50,152

PublicSmall city5,005 undergraduates

Cost of McNeese

Total cost of attendance (per year)$21,410
Tuition and fees, in-state$9,084
Tuition and fees, out-of-state$10,584
Housing and food (on campus)$11,016
Books and supplies$1,385
Average net price after aid$11,228

Net price by family income

Family incomeAverage net price / year
$0–30,000$9,708
$30,001–48,000$8,834
$48,001–75,000$9,793
$75,001–110,000$12,797
$110,001+$17,205

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with McNeese's net price calculator ↗.

Admissions

Acceptance rate78%
Average SAT1,087
SAT reading (25th–75th percentile)490–610
SAT math (25th–75th percentile)450–588
ACT composite (25th–75th percentile)18–23
Test scoresConsidered but not required

Graduation, earnings and debt

Graduation rate47%
First-year retention68%
Median earnings 6 years after enrolling$43,062
Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$50,152
Rank in Louisiana (earnings)15th of 27 similar colleges
Median debt of graduates$21,383
Typical monthly loan payment$243 (10-year plan)
Students with Pell grants41%
Students with federal loans34%

Majors and programs at McNeese

Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.

Bachelor's degree programs (30)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Mechanical Engineering56$89,765—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing280$79,060$17,750
Engineering59$73,828$19,899
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions41$56,471$21,554
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions29$55,942—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods44$46,885—
Business Administration, Management and Operations177$46,300$19,500
Accounting and Related Services74$46,271$18,324
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities287$39,751$21,100
Agriculture99$39,426$21,616
Criminal Justice and Corrections73$38,863$27,768
Communication and Media Studies52$38,551$19,619
Biology81$36,339$22,614
Sociology52$36,165$28,500
Marketing44$35,325—
Public Health35$35,224$23,000
Psychology118$27,960$22,975
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness138$25,378$21,075
Fine and Studio Arts35$16,432—
Chemical Engineering38——
Chemistry15——
Computer Science54——
English Language and Literature34——
Finance and Financial Management Services38——
History18——
Mathematics10——
Music21——
Political Science and Government12——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas4——
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management15——

Certificate programs (2)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations3——
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies———

Associate's degree programs (1)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities107$40,035$21,100

Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (2)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas———

Master's degree programs (17)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing91$111,515$41,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations76$60,900$25,686
Psychology29$50,660$39,294
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness32$47,042—
Criminal Justice and Corrections41$46,447$28,378
Chemistry20——
Curriculum and Instruction5——
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services10——
Educational Administration and Supervision———
Educational/Instructional Media Design———
Engineering8——
English Language and Literature11——
Mathematics5——
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions1——
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies7——
Student Counseling and Personnel Services14——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods5——

Professional degree programs (1)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing3——

Graduate certificate programs (7)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Educational/Instructional Media Design———
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication1——
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing17——
Special Education and Teaching2——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods5——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas13——
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language3——

Similar colleges in Louisiana

CollegeCityNet price / yrAcceptanceEarnings
University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe$12,21885%$49,742
Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux$13,35791%$49,144
University of New OrleansNew Orleans$7,76174%$53,518
Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches$12,84293%$51,238
Southern University and A & M CollegeBaton Rouge$18,63135%$47,186
Louisiana State University at AlexandriaAlexandria$12,10592%$46,481
Grambling State UniversityGrambling$19,21445%$41,535
Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston$11,95986%$58,121

All colleges in Louisiana →

About McNeese

TypePublic four-year university
LocationLake Charles, LA
SettingSmall city
Undergraduates5,005
Student-to-faculty ratio20 to 1
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Websitemcneese.edu ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is McNeese's acceptance rate?

McNeese State University admits 78% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,087 on the SAT.

How much does McNeese cost per year?

The full cost of attendance is $21,410 a year (tuition and fees: $9,084 in-state, $10,584 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $11,228 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $9,708.

How much do McNeese graduates earn?

Former students earn a median of $50,152 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 15th of 27 similar colleges in Louisiana. The best-paid bachelor's program is mechanical engineering ($89,765 a year after graduation).

What is McNeese's graduation rate?

47% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 68% of first-year students return for a second year.