McNeese State University is a public, regional institution of higher learning residing in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Its main campus sits on 121 acres in the heart of the southern area of Lake Charles. It is home to a 503-acre harm, 65-acre athletic complex, and almost 1,600 acres of donated farm land used for farming, ranching, and research. About 30 buildings are located on the campus, including three original structures, Francis G. Bulber Auditorium, Kaufman Hall, and Ralph O. Ward Memorial Gym. McNeese State University offers about 83 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its eight colleges and departments: Department of General and Basic Studies, Burton College of Education, College of Business, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Liberal Arts, College of Nursing and Health Professions, College of Science and Agriculture, and the William J. Doré SR., School of Graduate Studies. The mission of McNeese State University is to provide successful lifelong education to students and services to the employers and communities in the nearby area. Its core values include academic excellence, student success, university-community alliances, and fiscal responsibility. The university’s motto is “Excellence with a Personal Touch.” The university is a selective admissions institution and its student to faculty ratio is 21 to one. The university prides itself on its diverse student body, with students from throughout Louisiana, United States, and about 50 countries. McNeese State University was founded in 1939 as Lake Charles Junior College, which was a division of Louisiana State University. In 1940, the college became John McNeese Junior College to honor John McNeese, who was a well-known Southwest Louisiana educator and Imperial Calcasieu Parish’s first superintendent of schools. The college became a four-year institution in 1950 and became authorized by the Louisiana Board of Education. It gained accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1954 and it has maintained its status as a Level IV institution. In 1970, the college officially became McNeese State University. In 2013, the university opened the Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development Center (SEED) which is committed to improving and diversifying the economy of the five-parish surrounding area. Today, McNeese State University is home to more than 7,500 students.

McNeese State University Accreditation Details

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits McNeese State University to grant associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and specialist degrees. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission accredits the nursing programs offered by McNeese State University.

McNeese State University Application Requirements

Undergraduate

• Complete and submit the McNeese State University Application

• Submit official high school transcript

• Submit official transcripts from any previously attended colleges or universities

• Submit official standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT directly to the university

• Pay the nonrefundable $20 application fee

• Submit proof of immunization form

Graduate

• Complete and submit the McNeese State University Graduate Application

• Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended directly to the university

• Submit official scores from graduate level tests, such as the GRE or GMAT

• Pay the nonrefundable $20 application fee

• Submit proof of immunization form

• Submit additional requirements as designated by specific programs

Online

• Submit official online application for admission

• Pay $20 nonrefundable application fee

• Submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher learning

• Complete and submit the proof of immunization form

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition

Undergraduate

• Louisiana resident student: six credit hours-$2,030.50, nine credit hours-$2,866.75, 12 credit hours-$3,692.23, and 15 credit hours-$3,752.23

• Nonresident student: six credit hours-$2,030.50, nine credit hours-$4,738.75, 12 credit hours-$6,192.23, and 15 credit hours-$6,252.23

• International student: six credit hours-$2,065.50, nine credit hours-$7,126.25, 12 credit hours-$9,264.73, and 15 credit hours-$9,324.73

Graduate

• Louisiana resident student: three credit hours-$1,483.35, six credit hours-$2,660.20, nine credit hours-$3,826.24, and 12 credit hours-$3,911.74

• Nonresident student: three credit hours-$1,483.35, six credit hours-$4,328.20, nine credit hours-$6,326.24, and 12 credit hours-$6,411.74

• International student: three credit hours-$6,919.70, six credit hours-$9,398.74, nine credit hours-$9,484.24, and 12 credit hours-$9,544.24

Financial Aid

McNeese State University offers a variety of financial aid programs, including scholarships, grants, loans, and student employment.

Scholarships

• Presidential Scholarship

• John McNeese Scholars Award

• Academic Excellence Award

• McNeese Foundation Freshman Honor Award

• Distinguished Achievement Award

• Louisiana Lagniappe Scholarship

• McNeese Transfer Scholarship

• Continuing Student Academic Scholarships

• Graduate Scholarships

• Athletic Scholarships

• Performance Scholarships

• Honors College Scholarships

Grants

• Federal Pell Grant

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

• Louisiana Go Grant

Loans

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

• Federal Direct PLUS Loan

• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

• Federal Perkins Loan

Work-Study Program

The Federal Work-Study Program offers jobs for students showing financial need to earn money to pay for higher education expenses. In general, students make minimum wage and have the ability to work eight to 12 hours per week. Students must be enrolled at least half time, or six credit hours to gain employment. Students must also maintain a Satisfactory Academic Progress to remain in the work study program.

Online RN to BSN Program at McNeese State University

McNeese State University offers an online RN to BSN program through the College of Nursing and Health Professions’ Department of Undergraduate Nursing. The mission of the undergraduate nursing degree program is to provide students with a sound education that will enable them to improve the quality of life in a global society and make a difference in today’s healthcare system. It focuses on clinical judgement, professionalism, communication, role development, and service to the community. The online RN to BSN program is intended for current registered nurses in good standing seeking to complete their bachelor’s degree in nursing. The program requires the completion of 120 credit hours, including general education courses, core courses, and electives. The core courses include human anatomy and physiology I and II, microbiology for nursing and allied health, US healthcare organization and delivery, wellness promotion across the lifespan, nursing research, nursing informatics, ethical and legal nursing practice, community health nursing for the RN, leadership role for the RN, advanced nursing concepts for the RN, and advancement placement for unencumbered RN licensure. Students must earn a grade of a C or better in all courses to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McNeese State University.

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