Nicholls State University — College Profile

About

Nestled in the heart of Louisiana's Bayou Country, Nicholls State University is best known for its rich Cajun heritage and the world-renowned Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, which offers the state's premier four-year culinary arts degree. Beyond its legendary culinary program, the university boasts highly respected degrees in nursing, business administration, and marine and environmental biology, the latter of which utilizes the nearby coastal wetlands for unique, hands-on field research. The campus culture is tight-knit and welcoming, offering a vibrant student experience complete with spirited NCAA Division I athletics, active student organizations, and beloved local traditions like the annual Crawfish Day. With its exceptionally personalized instruction and affordable tuition, Nicholls provides a highly supportive, culturally rich environment that sets its graduates up for immediate career success.

Wikipedia:Nicholls State University is a public university in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Founded in 1948, Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System. Originally named Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the university is named for Francis T. Nicholls, a former governor of Louisiana, member of the Louisiana Supreme Court, and general in the Confederate army during the American Civil War.

Location

Thibodaux, LA, 70310 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MSY · New Orleans

35 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$8,149$9,242

Housing & food (on campus)$11,412$11,412

Books & supplies$1,300$1,300

Cost of attendance$29,080$24,574 est.

Average net price$12,947Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$9,242

In-state: $8,149

Housing & food (on campus)$11,412

Books & supplies$1,300

Cost of attendance$24,574 est.

In-state: $29,080

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $12,947

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.nicholls.edu

How it’s made up · in-state, 2026-27

Nicholls State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$9,554

Housing$11,568

Books & supplies$1,386

Personal expenses$2,742

Transportation$3,756

Total published by the school$29,080

Source: www.nicholls.edu · checked Sep 29, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$10,714

$30–48k

$10,527

$48–75k

$12,139

$75–110k

$16,784

$110k+

$17,954

Your family's actual price → Nicholls State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

54%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

30%

Back for yr 2

77%

Transferred

23%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

51% graduated · 29% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 20% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$38,829

10 yrs after entry$45,454

Debt

Median at graduation$22,675

Monthly payment$240

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$23.5k

90th percentile$37,142

Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (medium programs): 52% graduate within 6 yrs.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

91%

Test policy

Required

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1090

R 472–608 · M 462–588

ACT midpoint

Comp 19–24 · E 19–25 · M 17–24

SAT middle 50%: 934–1196

40080012001600

Wondering if Nicholls State University is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list

Financial aid & net cost estimates

Deep dives on any school

Scholarship search

Get your college list →See a sample college plan first

Essay prompts

If Nicholls State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body

Gender

Men 39%Women 61%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

19 : 1

Pell grant

34%

First-gen

46%

Family income

$36,747

Independent

19%

Veterans

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

10%

Race & ethnicity

White

64%

Hispanic

Black

18%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Beach Volleyball
Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$38,829

After 10 yrs

$45,454

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing146

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General121

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other112

Business Administration, Management and Operations108

Psychology, General79

Biology, General48

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods35

Culinary Arts and Related Services32

Accounting and Related Services28

Criminal Justice and Corrections26

English Language and Literature, General25

Communication and Media Studies23

Finance and Financial Management Services23

Chemistry22

Management Information Systems and Services22

Special Education and Teaching21

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$17M

Full-time faculty

100%

Faculty salary

$6,998/mo

Teaching spend

$5,948

per student

Federal loans

38%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (medium programs)

Undergraduate profile