Admissions

Admissions will continue to process applications and encourage you to apply at any time! We have resumed accepting documents via mail or fax. We will also continue to accept college and high school transcripts and test scores by email if they are sent from the issuing institution. Immunization and selective service records can be emailed by the applicants. The immunization form has been updated to include the COVID-19 vaccination.

To ensure everyone’s safety when visiting the office, we will take the following preventive measures:

The Admissions front desk will only allow two visitors at a time
Visitors must wear a mask
Visitors must comply with the signs to maintain social distancing

We appreciate your patience as we work to process your admission. We hope that you and your family stay safe and well during this unprecedented event. As we return to campus, you can find information regarding NSU’s response to COVID-19 at https://www.nsula.edu/return-to-campus/. We look forward to having you join us in the future…and as always “Fork ‘em Demons!”

University Admissions & Placement Update Summer & Fall 2021 First-Time Freshmen

In response to the rapidly evolving impact on secondary and postsecondary education of the current covid-19 pandemic, the Board of Regents approved emergency guidelines for admissions and placement due to the cancellation or postponement of standardized tests whose scores are used in determining student eligibility.

Developed in close consultation with the Louisiana Department of Education, system chief academic officers and the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid (LOSFA), the updates address alternative criteria for placement into college courses and admission to postsecondary institutions. Current minimum admission criteria do not require ACT scores for admissions only for Math and English placement.

Students who have met the Regents Core and GPA (Flagship: 3.0; Statewide: 2.5 and Regional: 2.0), but have no ACT or SAT score on file to demonstrate proficiency in English and Math may meet subscore admissions or placement criteria by:

Successfully completing postsecondary departmental exams and/or placement assessments at the institution where they plan to enroll, (see table below) OR
Successfully completing placement assessments offered by community colleges and submitting scores to the institution where they plan to enroll (see table below) OR
In keeping with Regents’ Minimum Admissions Criteria policy, institutions can still evaluate for other factors in addition to minimum admissions requirements. Institutions with applicants who have not met the minimum test score requirements, or have no scores available as required by the Board of Regents Minimum Admissions Criteria for First-Time Freshmen, may rely on other factors, such as trends in academic performance, rigor of coursework, challenging high school curriculum, class rank, special talents or quality of extracurricular activities, to determine final admission ;OR
Enrolling in co-requisite support in course(s) where the student is deficient

Incoming students from non-English speaking countries who do not have access to the TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency exams (per Academic Affairs 2.18) due to disruptions caused by covid-19, may meet English proficiency requirements through the Duolingo English exam if accepted by the institution. Scores on the Duolingo English exam must be concorded and comparable to the current TOEFL and IELTS minimum scores needed to indicate proficiency.

Minimum Admission Criteria

Click on one of the admission types below for the respective admission criteria.

Your decision to apply to NSU is the first step on your journey to becoming a NSU Demon and an important part of our great university. Not only will you find yourself surrounded by some of the state’s best students, but you’ll be learning from faculty who are dedicated to the art of teaching.

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Admission Forms

Contact Us

Office of Admissions
306 Sam Sibley Drive
Student Services Center, Suite 235
Natchitoches, LA 71497

Phone: 318.357.4078
Toll-Free: 800.767.8115
FAX: 318.357.4660
Email: applications@nsula.edu

Staff Directory

Taquita Bell Director of Admissions	Vacant Administrative Coordinator IV
Chasity Tousek Admissions Records Analyst tousekc@nsula.edu	Lora Hayes Administrative Coordinator IV sfhayesl@nsula.edu
Mikaela Sarpy Administrative Coordinator IV sarpym@nsula.edu	Donna Trichel Administrative Coordinator IV tricheld@nsula.edu
Lisa Fortenberry Administrative Coordinator IV fortenberryl@nsula.edu

Admissions Process

We want the admission process to be a smooth one for you, so we’ve prepared a list of different admission documents that we might need from you. Not all items below are required from every applicant, so please refer to the letter you receive in the mail to determine which requirement(s) you are missing at that time. The following are critical steps of the admission process, so click on each item for full information.

ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER PLACEMENT

Official test scores are used to determine developmental need. Official ACT/SAT/Compass/Accuplacer scores must come directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency or ACT/College Board.

ACT, SAT & Accuplacer Placement

APPLICATION FEE

An application fee is required for all applicants ($20 US Citizens, $30 International). Application fees will be assessed to all undergraduate student accounts after enrollment in classes who have not paid the fee and do not have an application fee waiver on file. Application fee waivers must be submitted to NSU directly by your high school or authorized official.

Application Fee Waiver

COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT

Official transcripts are required from all former institutions attended, regardless of whether or not the credits transfer. All transcripts must be on file and evaluated before an admission decision can be made. Official transcripts must be delivered to the Office of Admissions in a sealed unopened envelope from each former institution to be considered official.

FINAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT

We realize final high school transcripts are not yet available for current high school seniors. If you are currently a high school senior attending an out of state high school, please be sure to request your high school mail an official final transcript to NSU after you graduate. If you are a current Louisiana high school student or graduated from a Louisiana state approved high school in the past 3 years, we will download your transcript from the state transcript system.

If you graduated from a Louisiana state approved high school 4 years ago or longer, you will need to request your official transcript from your high school to be mailed or faxed to the Office of Admissions. If you earned a GED or HiSET, we will need the official test scores from the institution that awarded the diploma.

Official transcripts and test scores are those that are delivered to the Office of Admissions in an unopened school envelop from the high school or testing agency or faxed/emailed directly to the Office of Admissions from the high school or testing agency.

IMMUNIZATION

Immunization Compliance Form (COVID-19)

Please complete the compliance form if records are available. Compliance forms can be printed and filled out by hand and faxed to 318.357.4660 or emailed to the admissions office using the email address of applications@nsula.edu. Please email or fax proof of immunization records from your Physician or Care Provider as well.

Please complete the waiver if records are not available, if taking all online classes only, etc. This form can be completed digitally and emailed to the admissions office using the email address of applications@nsula.edu. Waivers can also be printed and filled out by hand and faxed to 318.357.4660.

Louisiana Law (R.S. 17:170.1 Schools of Higher Learning) requires all students entering Northwestern State University to be immunized for the following: Measles (2 doses), Mumps, Rubella—required for those born on or after January 1, 1957; Tetanus-Diphtheria (within the past 10 years); and against Meningococcal disease (Meningitis). The guidelines presented on the back of the “Proof of Immunization Compliance Form” are for the purpose of implementing the requirements of Louisiana R.S. 17:170.1, and of meeting the established recommendations for control of vaccine-preventable diseases as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the United States Public Health Service (ACIP); and the American College Health Association (ACHA). Students not meeting the MMR & TD requirement will be prevented from registering for subsequent semesters.

REGENT'S CORE CURRICULUM

See your high school guidance counselor to ensure you are on track to completing this curriculum.

Units	Courses
4 ENGLISH	English I English II English III English IV
4 MATH	Algebra I/Applied Algebra I/Algebra I – Pt. 2Geometry/Applied GeometryAlgebra IIFinancial Math/Math Essentials/Advanced: PreCalculus/Advanced: Functions & Statistics/PreCalculus/Calculus/Probability and Statistics/Discrete Math/approved elective
4 SCIENCE	BiologyChemistry2 units from: Physical Science/Integrated Science/Physics I/Physics of Technology I/Aerospace Science/Biology II/Chemistry II/Earth Science/Environmental Science/Physics II/Physics of Technology II/Agriscience II/Anatomy and Physiology/approved elective (including approved IBCrelated course)
4 SOCIAL STUDIES	Civics/AP American Government + Free Enterprise (1/2 unit each)American HistoryWorld History/World Geography/Western Civilization/AP European HistoryWorld History/World Geography/Western Civilization/AP European History/Law Studies/Psychology/Sociology/Civics (2^nd semester, ½ unit)/African American Studies/approved IBCrelated course/(Religion I, II, III, IV for nonpublic schools)
2 FOREIGN LANGUAGES	2 units from same language or 2 speech courses
1 ARTS	Fine Arts Survey or 1 unit: Art/Dance/Music/Theater Arts/Applied Arts/approved IBC-related course
19 UNITS

SELECTIVE SERVICE

Males only. Visit the Selective Service website and register or verify your registration, then FAX verification of your registration to us 318.357.4660.

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD COPY

If this is requested, we either do not have a social security number on file for you, or there is a discrepancy with the number that you submitted to us.