NATCHITOCHES  -- Northwestern State University was ranked in Tier One among regional universities in the South in the 2014 edition of "America's Best Colleges," the most widely-read assessment of the nation's colleges and universities published annually by U.S. News & World Report. NSU was one of only two Louisiana public institutions in Tier One among regional universities.

The rankings take into account criteria including acceptance rates, retention and graduation rates, academic reputation, student/faculty ratio, class size and alumni giving.

“We are pleased to see Northwestern State recognized as being among the top regional universities in the South,” said NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb. “It is a reflection of the work that has been done to attract better, more prepared students to the university and the dedication of our faculty to student success.”

Regional universities offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs.

“I’ve gotten everything I could have asked for at Northwestern State and more,” said Rebekah Burleson, a sophomore hospitality management and tourism major from Evelyn. “I found the people here so friendly. They are like family. And you receive individual attention from the faculty.”

Sophomore Tommy Remson of Baton Rouge agreed that the university’s faculty is committed to student success.

“If you are willing to work, the faculty will do all they can to help you,” said Remson, a hospitality management and tourism major. “I feel like Northwestern is the best university in the state. Everyone knows you and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.”

Remson is a member of the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. He was in the Presidential Leadership Program and was a freshman orientation leader. Burleson is a member of the Purple Pizazz Pom Pon Line and Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society.
    
Among the top academic programs at Northwestern State is the Louisiana Scholars’ College, the state’s designated honors college in the liberal arts.

“The Scholars’ College provides a private liberal arts experience with the opportunity to take part in extracurricular activities as you would at a larger university,” said Brandi Vincent of Lafayette, a senior liberal arts/humanities and English literature major with a concentration is gender and women’s studies.  “We have a good student to professor ratio. The professors played a formative role in the success I had in two internships.”

Vincent had an internship at a Lafayette law firm after her freshman year and at the Feminist Majority Foundation and Ms. Magazine following her sophomore year. She is in the process of applying to graduate schools around the country.

For more information on Northwestern State, go to nsula.edu.