Northwestern State University

Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Former names	Louisiana State Normal School (1884–1944); Northwestern State College of Louisiana (1944–1970)
Motto	Dedicated to one goal. Yours.
Type	Public university
Established	1884
Parent institution	UL System
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$20.8 million (2021)
President	Marcus Jones
Students	9,389 (2022)
Location	Natchitoches, Louisiana, United States; 31°45′00″N 93°05′50″W / 31.750°N 93.0972°W
Campus	Rural, 916 acres (371 ha)
Colors	Purple and White; Orange accent;
Nickname	Demons / Lady Demons
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FCS – Southland
Mascot	Vic the Demon
Website	www.nsula.edu

Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA)^[4] is a public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Johnson and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.

NSU was founded in 1884 as the Louisiana State Normal School. It was the first school in Louisiana to offer degree programs in nursing and business education. NSU, along with numerous other state colleges, gained university status in 1970 during the administration of President Arnold R. Kilpatrick, a Northwestern State alumnus who served from 1966 to 1978. Kilpatrick succeeded the 12-year president, John S. Kyser, a native of El Paso, Illinois.^[5]

NSU was one of the first six colleges to enter into NASA's Joint Venture Program. Students worked with NASA scientists to help analyze data and do research for the 1996 Space Shuttle Columbia shuttle mission. NSU also hosts the Louisiana Scholars' College, Louisiana's designated honors college in the liberal arts and sciences. The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, a state-supported residential high school for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, is also located on the campus. It was a brainchild of former State Representative Jimmy D. Long of Natchitoches, who also attended NSU.

NSU offers more than 50 degree programs. Fall 2018 total enrollment was 11,081, the largest in the university's 133-year history, although the school saw enrollments decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hampered recruitment efforts.^[6] NSU also claims more than 70,000 alumni.

^ "Data USA: Northwestern State University of Louisiana". Data USA. October 21, 2023.
^ James, Tyrenisha (November 17, 2021). "Marcus Jones chosen as 20th president of NSU". Purple Media Network. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
^ Northwestern State University Visual Branding Guidelines (PDF). May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
^ "Northwestern State of Louisiana". Northwestern State University of Louisiana. February 9, 1997. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
^ Kyser, John S. "A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography". lahistory.org. Louisiana Historical Association. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
^ James, Tyrenisha (November 8, 2021). "NSU records nine percent decrease in enrollment". The Current Sauce. Retrieved September 7, 2022.

[1] "Data USA: Northwestern State University of Louisiana". Data USA. October 21, 2023.

[2] James, Tyrenisha (November 17, 2021). "Marcus Jones chosen as 20th president of NSU". Purple Media Network. Retrieved July 20, 2023.

[3] Northwestern State University Visual Branding Guidelines (PDF). May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2017.

[4] "Northwestern State of Louisiana". Northwestern State University of Louisiana. February 9, 1997. Retrieved July 20, 2023.

[5] Kyser, John S. "A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography". lahistory.org. Louisiana Historical Association. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2010.

[6] James, Tyrenisha (November 8, 2021). "NSU records nine percent decrease in enrollment". The Current Sauce. Retrieved September 7, 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]