Central State University vs. NSU

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

Central State University NSU
Location Wilberforce, OH Norfolk, VA
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 5,434 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1023 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralstate.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $5,176 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $7,176 $16,920
Room & Board $10,900 $10,844
Avg Net Price $10,194 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $6,943 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 91%

Admission

Central State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,814 8,884
Admitted 3,388 7,951
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 89.5%
Enrolled % 18.1% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 2.9
Typical High School Grades B- B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 15/20
SAT Range 770/950 840/1040
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

Central State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Central State University NSU
Graduation Rate 24% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $27,200 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 16% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $39,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $403 $320

Diversity

Central State University NSU
% Men 30% 33%
% Women 70% 67%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 1% 5%
% Black 95% 84%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Central State University NSU
% In-State 55% 65%
% Out-of-State 36% 31%

Campus

Central 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 Central State University based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 5,434 students)

Central State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central State University or NSU?

  • Norfolk State University is 11.1% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($5,752.00 vs. $5,176.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 135.8% higher at NSU than Central State University ($16,920.00 vs. $7,176.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than NSU ($10,194 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 0.5% lower than costs at Central State University ($10,844 vs. $10,900)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central State University as Norfolk State University (91% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 75.2% larger than aid received Central State University ($12,164 vs. $6,943)

Central State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Norfolk State University (808) is 31 points higher than at Central State University (777)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (17) than students at Central State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (2.9) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Central State University (88.8%)

Central State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central 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 Central State University.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Central State University (33% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Norfolk State University earn on average $9,500 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $27,200)
  • Norfolk State University students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($31,000 vs. $39,000)
  • NSU graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($320 vs. $403)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (27% vs. 16%)

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