McNeese State University
Lake Charles, Louisiana · Public · 5,005 undergraduates · mcneese.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test required
Send an SAT or ACT score
Admit rate
78%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
940 to 1198
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$29,010Est.Estimate
$30,090 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at McNeese State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
78% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$30,090
a year in 2027-28, from a $30,090 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1070
Send your score
This college requires an SAT or ACT score.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test required
You must send an SAT or ACT score.
- Send official score reports when you apply.
Source: Admission Requirements | McNeese State University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Aug1Other deadline · August 1, 2027
Who gets in
78%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 940 to 1198
Reading and Writing 490 to 610
Math 450 to 588
ACT composite 18 to 23
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$29,010
a year, in state
$30,090
a year, out of state (tuition $11,030)
- Tuition (in state)$9,950
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$9,708
- $30,001 to $48,000$8,834
- $48,001 to $75,000$9,793
- $75,001 to $110,000$12,797
- Over $110,000$17,205
Financial aidEstimate
61%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
88%
of freshmen receive grants
$9,649
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Louisiana programs for residents
TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students)
$400 to $12,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.50+ GPA, 1390+ SAT or 31+ ACT, TOPS Excellence; complete 19.0-unit TOPS core curriculum; BESE-approved high school$12,000
- 3.50+ GPA, 1260+ SAT or 27+ ACT, TOPS Honors; complete 19.0-unit TOPS core curriculum; BESE-approved high school$800
- 2.50+ GPA, 1030+ SAT or 20+ ACT, TOPS Opportunity; complete 19.0-unit TOPS core curriculum; BESE-approved high school
- 3.25+ GPA, 1130+ SAT or 23+ ACT, TOPS Performance; complete 19.0-unit TOPS core curriculum; BESE-approved high school$400
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
32 of 32
Earn credit with a score of 3
32 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,000Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | Art 261 or 262 |
| Art History | 4 | 6 | Art 261, 262 |
| Biology | 3 | 8 | Biology 101, 101L, 102, 102L |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 9 | Mathematics 177, 190 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 13 | Mathematics 177, 190, 291 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 6 | Chemistry 101, 102 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Political Science 240 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | Computer Science 180 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 1 | Computer Science 100 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | English 101 |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 6 | English 101, 102 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | English 203 |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 6 | English 203, 204 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | Environmental Science 101, 110L |
| European History | 3 | 3 | History 101 or 102 |
| European History | 4 | 6 | History 101, 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | French 101, 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | French 101, 102, 201 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | French 101, 102, 201, 202 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | Geography 211 |
| Latin | 3 | 6 | Latin 101, 102 |
| Latin | 4 | 12 | Latin 101, 102, 201, 202 |
| Latin | 5 | 15 | Latin 101, 102, 201, 202, 301 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | Economics 204 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | Economics 203 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | Music 101, 101L |
| Music Theory | 5 | 6 | Music 101, 101L, 102, 102L |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | Physics 201, 205 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | Physics 202, 206 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | Physics 212, 206 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | Physics 211, 205 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 5 | MATH 177 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | Psychology 101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | Spanish 101, 102 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | Spanish 101, 102, 201 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | Spanish 101, 102, 201, 202 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | Statistics 231 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Political Science 201 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | History 201 or 202 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | History 201, 202 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | History 121 or 122 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 6 | History 121, 122 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
47%
Come back for a second year
68%
Typical earnings
$50,152
a year, 10 years after starting here
- McNeese State University$44,539
- All colleges$55,386
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 19 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with McNeese State University.