AU vs. NSU

Deciding between Averett University and Norfolk State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Averett University
Norfolk State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Danville, VA
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • AU Small City
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 1,476
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #637
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $38,550
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $38,550
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • AU $14,530
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $23,471
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $29,998
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 99%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 2,573
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • AU 1,456
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 56.6%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 18.1%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1030
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 21
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.07
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU B
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Moderate
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • AU 15/28
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • AU 926/1143
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 16:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 41%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $48,400
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 51%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $25,000
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $258
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 45%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • AU 55%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU Medium
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • AU 1%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • AU 33%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 4%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • AU 1%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 0%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • AU 4%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 0%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 54%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 39%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • NSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU No
  • NSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU No
  • NSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Averett University in Danville, VA with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Norfolk State University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (6,053 students vs. 1,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Averett University is located in Danville, VA (Small City setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Averett University 16:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

AU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or NSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than AU ($9,124 vs. $23,471).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 20.2% lower than at Averett University ($11,591 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 278.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $28,370 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 77.8% higher at AU than at Norfolk State University (about $16,868 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $21,682.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Averett University than at Norfolk State University (99% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 99.2% larger than aid received by Norfolk State University students ($29,998 vs. $15,056).

AU vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Averett University (1030) is 100 points higher than at NSU (930).
  • Incoming AU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Averett University 926/1143; Norfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Averett University 15/28; Norfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.07) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at AU vs. 13.2% at NSU.

AU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and NSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Averett University's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Averett University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($258 vs. $320).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 27%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.