Hey, what's up? I'm Ferrari Saint Paul and this is University TV, where we put you in university. Today, we're here at Nicholls State University, located right in the heart of "Cajun Country". Nicholls is located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, close to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. Thibodaux is about an hour from both New Orleans and Baton Rouge, so students can take advantage of everything from food to celebrations with the unique Cajun flair that the area has to offer.

Thibodaux is just a small town. I came here with the intention of leaving and I decided not to just because I enjoy being here, I enjoy the people, I enjoy the, you know, the small community, small family environment.

You can go just about anywhere and feel like you're eating at home because the people put love into what they do around here especially with the food.

The Nicholls State campus covers 210 beautiful acres and features historical architecture with strikingly modern on-campus structures. Nicholls State enrolls just under 7,000 students and about 91 percent are undergraduates. The university is diverse as minority students make up about 26 percent of the population.

They're very friendly here. It's a big thing for me 'cause I came from somewhere where everybody is pretty close and pretty, you know, friendly. So here on campus, you don't feel like you're an outsider. They accept you right away and, you know, you get to be like a family.

If you are looking for acceptance at Nicholls State, you need an overall high school GPA of 2.0 or higher or have a score of at least a 20 on your ACT or rank in the top half of your graduating class.

It's got the same--an overall general improvement in the academic preparation of our students. They're coming better prepared from high school based on the news--the new policy that we have. Instead of having open admissions, we have selective admissions.

If you live in the great state of Louisiana, you can expect to pay about 3,600 dollars per year in tuition. Room and board costs run approximately 2,300 dollars to 3,600 dollars depending on the number of occupants. Nicholls provides over 90 degree programs with reputable programs in geomatics, marine biology, petroleum engineering technologies, and culinary arts. Bon appetit. If you have a passion for food and are particularly fond of French cuisine, Nicholls is for you. It's the only university in the nation who has a partnership with the Institute Paul Bocuse in France. Some of the most popular majors include nursing, education, and business.

In the College of Business, we probably have more internships available than we have student at this point. Degrees in business are so hot right now that our employers are seeking them out.

We can say that our students are 100 percent employable on graduation. I have people who call me all the time, "We want your Nicholls' nurses." The professionalism, their education level, their respect for the profession, it sets us apart.

With a student to faculty ratio of 26 to 1, professors are able to put a name with the face and give students a hands-on interaction in the classroom that they need to be successful.

I think we have some extraordinary talented faculty.

You can get to know them easily because we focus on individuals and not just, you know, a mass audience.

There is no substitution or simulations so the better that we can simulate here in the lab setting. The students can walk into that hospital setting and just deliver awesome care. So it really sets them up for success.

As a senior, they've provided me with all the knowledge I need to take at my next step.

Got school spirit? If so, be sure to cheer on anyone of the Nicholls State Colonels' athletic teams, which compete at the Division I level in the Southland Conference. Did you know that Nicholls is home to the nationally known Manning Passing Academy football camp featuring Super Bowl MVP's Peyton and Eli Manning? Not looking forward to leaving all the great comforts of home? Not a problem, since all residence halls at Nicholls are either newly built or being remodeled.

You will feel comfortable, you will feel at home and you're gonna like where you stay at Nicholls.

All first time freshmen are required to live on campus, unless they still live at home. But if you're unsure or nervous about having a roommate, Nicholls State offers roommate matching socials.

They always plan many activities for us to do, you know, movie nights, parties, pizza night, you know, [inaudible] barbecue.

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Dine at Nicholls' caf and you can have pasta ala menu. That's right. Fresh Italian while you wait.

The caf also has its very own custom-built pizza oven. With over 100 student organizations to choose from, you'll find your niche.

And there are fraternities and sororities. There are all forms of academic clubs and social clubs. There are religiously affiliated clubs that are available, the student government association.

We plan many activities on campus, you know, Crawfish Day, winter fest, casino nights.

Some of the other fun stuff that people are involved in, there's intramural sports, baseball and softball, football, basketball, all those things. A lot of people participate in those.

Safety first. In case you didn't know, Nicholls State has been rated the safest campus in Louisiana. Also, the Louisiana Center for Dyslexia is located on campus providing services for dyslexic students and students with other learning differences.

So, tell me a little more about your business.

At Nicholls, you'll learn how to close the deal. Students use this interactive sales lab to perfect their sales pitches. It's the only lab of its kind in the state. So if the state's small town with big opportunities is what you see in your future, take a closer look at Nicholls State University. Thanks for joining us here in Thibodaux, Louisiana on our tour of Nicholls State University. I'm Ferrari Saint Paul saying goodbye to you from the Bayou.

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