BSC vs. NSU

Should I go to Bismarck State College or Norfolk State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BSC or NSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bismarck State College vs. Norfolk State University comparison
Bismarck State College Norfolk State University College 3 College 4
Norfolk State University
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Overview

BSC NSU
Location Bismarck, ND Norfolk, VA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 3,771 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bismarckstate.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BSC NSU
Tuition (In State) $4,167 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $6,251 $16,920
Room & Board $7,830 $10,844
Avg Net Price $11,309 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $4,239 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 70% 91%

Admission

BSC NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 8,884
Admitted - 7,951
Acceptance Rate Open 89.5%
Enrolled % Open 16.4%
Avg High School GPA - 2.9
Typical High School Grades - B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 31, 2025

Academics

BSC NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
  • Engineering Technology (27%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (6%)
  • Construction Trades (5%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

BSC NSU
% Men 52% 33%
% Women 48% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 86% 5%
% Black 4% 84%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

BSC NSU
% In-State 89% 65%
% Out-of-State 10% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than BSC based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 3,771 students)

BSC vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSC or NSU?

  • Norfolk State University is 38% more expensive to attend than BSC for in-state tuition ($5,752.00 vs. $4,167.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 170.7% higher at NSU than Bismarck State College ($16,920.00 vs. $6,251.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bismarck State College than NSU ($11,309 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bismarck State College are 38.5% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($7,830 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than Bismarck State College (91% vs. 70%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 187% larger than aid received Bismarck State College ($12,164 vs. $4,239)

Which college is harder to get into, BSC or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or BSC .

BSC vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BSC or NSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NSU and BSC.

  • Graduates from Bismarck State College earn on average $12,500 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($49,200 vs. $36,700)
  • Bismarck State College students graduate with a $19,959 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($11,041 vs. $31,000)
  • BSC graduates are paying $206 less per month on federal student loans 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/