Centra College vs. NSU

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

Centra College NSU
Location Lynchburg, VA Norfolk, VA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 212 6,045
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #999
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centrahealth.com nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Centra College NSU
Tuition (In State) $9,240 $5,926
Tuition (Out of State) $9,240 $17,428
Room & Board $11,252 $11,692
Avg Net Price $24,868 $12,272
Avg Grant Aid $6,903 $11,153
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Centra College NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1 10,211
Admitted 1 8,931
Acceptance Rate 100% 87.5%
Enrolled % 0% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA - 2.9
Typical High School Grades - B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21
SAT Range 840/1100
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 31, 2026

Academics

Centra College NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Centra College NSU
Graduation Rate - 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,042 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $124 $320

Diversity

Centra College NSU
% Men 8% 3%
% Women 53% 5%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 65% 5%
% Black 35% 84%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Centra College NSU
% In-State 100% 65%
% Out-of-State 0% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than Centra College based on total student enrollment (6,045 students vs. 212 students)

Centra College vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centra College or NSU?

  • Centra College is 55.9% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($9,240.00 vs. $5,926.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 88.6% higher at NSU than Centra College ($17,428.00 vs. $9,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Centra College ($12,272 vs. $24,868)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 3.9% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($11,252 vs. $11,692)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Centra College than Norfolk State University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 61.6% larger than aid received Centra College ($11,153 vs. $6,903)

Centra College vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than NSU (87.5%)

Centra College vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Centra College 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 Centra College.

  • Graduates from Centra College earn on average $8,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $36,700)
  • Centra College students graduate with a $18,958 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($12,042 vs. $31,000)
  • Centra College graduates are paying $196 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($124 vs. $320)
  • More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 27%)

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