BSC vs. NSU

Deciding between Bismarck State College 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.

Norfolk State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BSC Bismarck, ND
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • BSC Small City
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BSC 4,206
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • BSC Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BSC
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BSC -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • BSC Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BSC
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BSC $5,247
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BSC $7,331
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • BSC $8,273
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • BSC $10,462
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BSC $5,049
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BSC 73%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BSC -
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • BSC -
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BSC Open
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • BSC Open
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BSC
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • BSC
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • BSC -
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BSC -
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • BSC Unavailable
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • BSC
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • BSC
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • BSC
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BSC Open admission
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BSC
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BSC 13:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BSC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
    • Engineering Technology (27%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Construction Trades (5%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BSC -
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BSC $49,200
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BSC 74%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BSC $11,041
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BSC $114
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BSC 50%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • BSC 50%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BSC Very Low
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • BSC No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • BSC 86%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • BSC 1%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • BSC 4%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • BSC 3%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • BSC 2%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BSC 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BSC 3%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • BSC 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BSC 1%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BSC 91%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BSC 8%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bismarck State College in Bismarck, ND 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 BSC based on total student enrollment (6,053 students vs. 4,206 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bismarck State College is located in Bismarck, ND (Small City setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Bismarck State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bismarck State College 13:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

BSC vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSC 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 BSC ($9,124 vs. $10,462).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bismarck State College are 28.6% lower than at Norfolk State University ($8,273 vs. $11,591).
  • Norfolk State University is 94% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSC (about $4,933 more per year; $10,180.00 vs. $5,247.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 195.8% higher at NSU than at Bismarck State College (about $14,351 more per year; $21,682.00 vs. $7,331.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Norfolk State University than at Bismarck State College (75% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 198.2% larger than aid received by Bismarck State College students ($15,056 vs. $5,049).

BSC vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BSC 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 BSC.

  • Bismarck State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSC - Open admission; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.

BSC vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSC 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).

  • Graduates from Bismarck State College earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bismarck State College graduates have a $19,959 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($11,041 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, BSC graduates have an estimated $206 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($114 vs. $320).
  • More BSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.