Northwestern State University of Louisiana Higher Education Website Design

A Digital Foundation for Student Success.

A person using a laptop displaying a university website featuring an image of a scientist in a lab and text:

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public university serving a diverse student population across Louisiana and beyond. Known for its strong academic programs, student support services, and deep community roots, NSULA plays a critical role in preparing students for meaningful careers while advancing economic and cultural vitality throughout the region.

Services

Discovery & Research, Web Strategy , Web Design, Web Development

Problem

Built to function like an internal hub, NSULA’s site had become bloated, difficult to navigate, and misaligned with the needs of prospective students, particularly on-campus undergraduates and out-of-state prospects. Core value propositions around career outcomes, campus life, and affordability were buried or fragmented, making it hard for students to answer a simple but critical question: Why should I come to NSULA?

Our Approach

We repositioned the website as a recruitment tool built around prospective student decision-making. Starting with enrollment goals, we restructured the site architecture, streamlined content, and clarified NSULA’s core value propositions. The new experience leads with career outcomes, belonging, affordability, and proof points, supported by a refreshed visual system designed to feel welcoming, modern, and credible to prospective students.

01

Discovery & Research

Research revealed that many prospective NSULA students are first-generation college students weighing alternatives like community college or skipping college altogether. They need clear, practical answers about cost, career outcomes, and fit, not academic jargon or dense content.

four students walking down a sidewalk with the discovery workshop words and summary overlaying image.

A group of people wearing white sunglasses and colorful shirts enjoy a sunny outdoor event. The text reads

A basketball player in a white NSU jersey jumps for a shot. Bold text says

Two students sit on a bench with a laptop, smiling at the screen. Text reads “Stakeholder Surveys” alongside feedback on NSULA's website improvements.

02

Web Strategy

We designed the website to prioritize what prospective students need most, with clear pathways to cost, career outcomes, campus life, and support services, while keeping institutional content organized and out of the way.

NSULA-higher-education-web-design-research-web-project-goals-edited@2x

NSULA-higher-education-web-design-research-web-project-goals-small-image@2x

Content Strategy

Content is written in clear, approachable language and structured to answer common questions students may be hesitant to ask, particularly first-generation students navigating college for the first time. Program pages connect areas of study to related careers, helping students understand the real-world value of a degree. Navigation and search tools make it easy to explore by interest rather than academic terminology, reducing friction and helping students move forward with confidence.

A group of young adults in matching purple polo shirts and khaki shorts claps energetically outdoors, smiling under a clear sky with trees in the background.

Site Map

Together, these decisions repositioned the website from an internal information hub to a clear, student-focused recruitment tool. The final experience meets students where they are, answers the questions that influence enrollment decisions, and clearly communicates why NSULA is a practical, welcoming, and worthwhile choice.

03

Web Design & Development

We designed a custom WordPress website built on a flexible content architecture, combining responsive interface design, modern UX, and ADA accessibility to create a digital experience that is engaging, scalable, and easy to manage.

Collage of NSU highlights: 8,400+ student body, 17:1 ratio, 100+ programs. Quote on growth, image of smiling person in a

Geometric pattern of vertical lines with Y-shaped branches on a pink and purple gradient background, creating a modern and elegant visual effect.

Two students walking on campus, smiling. One wears bright orange pants, the other a t-shirt reading

Designed Around Enrollment

The new design leads with NSULA's core value propositions: career outcomes, affordability, and belonging. Degree program pages connect areas of study to real careers, giving prospective students the context they need to move forward with confidence.

A diverse group of smiling college students wearing Northwestern State University apparel gather on brick steps for a selfie, exuding a cheerful, collegiate vibe.

3 flat designs, 2 desktop and one mobile of degree programs page; Website featuring nursing program details with images of students in medical settings. Bold orange and purple accents highlight academic offerings.

A person holds a smartphone displaying a colorful university website. The screen features a vibrant group photo and text about building a future at the school.

A Student Journey Built Into Every Page

From the "How to Apply" page to First Year Experience, every template was built around clear user journeys and designed to reduce friction at every stage of the enrollment process, on any device.

Flat design of web and mobile page; Website screenshot of Northwestern State University application page. Bold header reads 'How to Apply to NSU.' Background shows smiling students in purple attire. Sections highlighted include application steps, quick links, and resources. Tone is welcoming and informative.

Three young women sit together, laughing and looking at a tablet. They wear colorful casual clothing in a brightly lit room, creating a joyful and lively atmosphere.

Hand holding smartphone showing campus housing application page. Background is a geometric purple pattern. Prominent text states,

The Results

41%

Increase in visitors on “How to Apply” page

Prospective students were struggling to find critical enrollment information on the old site. The redesign made the path to applying clear and direct, and students followed it.

100%

Increase in on-campus enrollment

Growing on-campus undergraduate enrollment was NSULA's primary goal coming into this project. The new site was built to make that case, and for the first time, NSULA hit 100% of their on-campus enrollment target.

Push10 helped us turn our website into a more strategic, useful, and authentic platform for telling the Northwestern State University story. Their team took the time to understand our audiences, our goals, and the realities of how a university website has to work every day. What stood out most was Push10’s ability to connect strategy, design, content, and usability in a way that felt practical and purposeful.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer

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