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CofC VSU Old Dominion Hampton University Bowie State University ECSU Delaware State University PC Coastal Carolina Fayetteville State University GWU Morgan State| Charleston Southern University | Norfolk State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CSU | NSU | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Norfolk, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,545 | 6,045 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #915 | #999 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuniv.edu | nsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,380 | $5,926 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,380 | $17,428 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,590 | $11,692 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,347 | $12,272 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,411 | $11,153 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 97% |
Admission |
CSU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,072 | 10,211 | ||
| Admitted | 4,620 | 8,931 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.1% | 87.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.7% | 16.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 16/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 950/1160 | 840/1100 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
CSU | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 38% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,800 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 50% | 27% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $31,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $320 |
Diversity |
CSU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 61% | 5% | ||
| % Black | 26% | 84% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 3% |
Students |
CSU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 24% | 31% | ||
Campus |
CSU | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Norfolk State University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (6,045 students vs. 3,545 students)
CSU vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or NSU?
- Charleston Southern University is 412.7% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($30,380.00 vs. $5,926.00)
- Out of state tuition is 74.3% higher at CSU than Norfolk State University ($30,380.00 vs. $17,428.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than CSU ($12,272 vs. $21,347)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charleston Southern University are 0.9% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($11,590 vs. $11,692)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Charleston Southern University than Norfolk State University (98% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 100.9% larger than aid received Norfolk State University ($22,411 vs. $11,153)
CSU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or CSU .
- The average SAT score at Charleston Southern University (1030) is 222 points higher than at NSU (808)
- Incoming CSU students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (17)
- Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at NSU (2.9)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than CSU (76.1%)
CSU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU 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 CSU.
- The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Norfolk State University (38% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn on average $3,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($39,800 vs. $36,700)
- Charleston Southern University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($27,000 vs. $31,000)
- CSU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($279 vs. $320)
- More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 27%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/