Black Hills State University vs. NSU

Should I go to Black Hills State University or Norfolk State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Black Hills State University 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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Black Hills State University vs. Norfolk State University comparison
Black Hills State University Norfolk State University College 3 College 4
Black Hills State University Norfolk State University
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Overview

Black Hills State University NSU
Location Spearfish, SD Norfolk, VA
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 3,425 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1006 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bhsu.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Black Hills State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $7,700 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $10,800 $16,920
Room & Board $7,528 $10,844
Avg Net Price $16,782 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $4,986 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

Black Hills State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,579 8,884
Admitted 1,526 7,951
Acceptance Rate 96.6% 89.5%
Enrolled % 31.5% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.22 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 15/20
SAT Range 970/1085 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 31, 2025

Academics

Black Hills State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Black Hills State University NSU
Graduation Rate 28% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,800 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,478 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $263 $320

Diversity

Black Hills State University NSU
% Men 37% 33%
% Women 63% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 83% 5%
% Black 2% 84%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 4% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Black Hills State University NSU
% In-State 57% 65%
% Out-of-State 42% 31%

Campus

Black Hills State University NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 3,425 students)

Black Hills State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Black Hills State University or NSU?

  • Black Hills State University is 33.9% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,700.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.7% higher at NSU than Black Hills State University ($16,920.00 vs. $10,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Black Hills State University ($14,652 vs. $16,782)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black Hills State University are 44% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($7,528 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Black Hills State University than Norfolk State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 144% larger than aid received Black Hills State University ($12,164 vs. $4,986)

Black Hills State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Black Hills State University (988) is 180 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming Black Hills State University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman Black Hills State University students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than NSU (89.5%)

Black Hills State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Black Hills State University 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 Black Hills State University.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Black Hills State University (33% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Black Hills State University earn on average $2,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($38,800 vs. $36,700)
  • Black Hills State University students graduate with a $5,522 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($25,478 vs. $31,000)
  • Black Hills State University graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($263 vs. $320)
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 27%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/