Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the university is named for Francis T. Nicholls, a former governor of Louisiana, and member of the Louisiana Supreme Court. The -acre ( km2) campus, once part of historic Acadia Plantation, fronts on Bayou Lafourche, about miles ( km) southwest of New Orleans and miles ( km) southeast of Baton Rouge.