Nicholls State University

Nicholls State opened on Sept. 23, 1948, as Francis T. Nicholls Junior College of Louisiana State University. In 1956, the Louisiana Legislature separated Nicholls State from LSU and authorized it to develop four-year curricula. In September 1956, the former junior college became Francis T. Nicholls State College and granted its first degrees in May 1958. In 1970, Act 93 of the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Nicholls State University. University leadership Charles C. Elkins (1948–1962) Vernon F. Galliano (1963–1982) Donald J. Ayo (1983–2003) Stephen T. Hulbert (2003–2013) Dr. Bruce Murphy (2014–2017) [ 3 ] Dr. Jay Clune (2018–present) [ 4 ]

More information Race and ethnicity, Total ... Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023 [ 5 ] Race and ethnicity Total White 65% Black 18% Hispanic 6% Two or more races 3% American Indian / Alaska Native 2% Asian 2% International student 2% Unknown 2% Economic diversity Low-income [ a ] 38% Affluent [ b ] 62% Close Quick facts Academic rankings, Master's ... Academic rankings Master's Washington Monthly [ 6 ] 203 Regional U.S. News & World Report [ 7 ] 102 (South) Close Princeton Review statistics from 2010 list the student-to-faculty ratio at Nicholls as 20:1. Admission has become selective. The average GPA upon entry is 3.2 with an ACT score of 21. The average GPA of undergraduate students admitted to the university's honors program is 3.6 with an ACT score of 26. Almost 62 percent of the student body are women; and nearly 3 percent are international students. [ 8 ] As with nearly all academic institutions in Louisiana, Hurricane Katrina affected Nicholls' completion rate and overall ranking. During the aftermath of Katrina, Nicholls suspended its admissions selectivity in order to accommodate students from hurricane affected institutions. The university also had many matriculating students who were affected by the hurricane and did not return. Colleges College of Sciences and Technology College of Business Administration College of Education and Behavioral Sciences College of Nursing College of Liberal Arts University College University Graduate Studies The Department of Art is built upon a broad liberal arts foundation and preparation in studio disciplines required for careers in the visual arts and design. The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The Department of Mass Communication is one of five mass communication programs in Louisiana accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). The department offers two concentrations: journalism and public relations.

Nicholls mass communication students and faculty employ three computer labs and a broadcast studio for learning and instruction in communication principles. Students within the department are also encouraged to apply for jobs with the KNSU radio station and student publications, helping to produce the yearbook or publishing the weekly newspaper, the Nicholls Worth . [ 9 ] The University of Louisiana System has identified the following areas as Unique Areas of Excellence at Nicholls State University. [ 10 ] These are areas of study that, because of either their unique classes or their leadership in Louisiana education, have been selected for this special honor. These include the John Folse Culinary Institute, Biological Sciences (Marine and environmental sciences emphasis), Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Teacher Education, Accounting and Information Systems, and Child, Family and Social Services. Other notable degree programs include: Bachelor of Arts in art, English, mass communication, and music; Bachelor of Science in applied sciences geomatics ; and master's degrees in marine and environmental biology, education, and business administration (in addition to an Executive MBA program). Nicholls is one of the first institutions in the United States to offer bachelor's degrees in Culinary Arts. Students gain expertise in both Cajun and French cuisine. The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute is the only American member of the prestigious Institut Paul Bocuse . Students also have the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts and then work towards earning the MBA. Nicholls' faculty have been recognized nationally and internationally by the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, the National Science Foundation , the National Institutes of Health , the National Endowment for the Humanities , Phi Kappa Lambda, the Renaissance Society of America , and other organizations and associations.

In the past three years, several faculty members have been awarded grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents . The university has the only certified public health geneticist in the South. Nicholls is also the home of the Louisiana Center for Women and Government , [ 11 ] as well as the Dyslexia Center of Louisiana. Nicholls Online provides complete degrees online in a variety of disciplines. [ 12 ] It offers over 100 online courses through its Division of Distance Education. [ 13 ] Nicholls Online is different from regular online courses at Nicholls in that the courses are offered through 8-week sessions and have a unique fee structure.