ISU vs. NSU

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

ISU NSU
Location Pocatello, ID Norfolk, VA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 12,301 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website isu.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU NSU
Tuition (In State) $5,928 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $23,906 $16,920
Room & Board $7,626 $10,844
Avg Net Price $12,425 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $9,145 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 91%

Admission

ISU NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 8,884
Admitted - 7,951
Acceptance Rate Open 89.5%
Enrolled % Open 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ 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

ISU NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

ISU NSU
Graduation Rate 26% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,300 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,950 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $320

Diversity

ISU NSU
% Men 40% 33%
% Women 60% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 67% 5%
% Black 1% 84%
% Hispanic 10% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 14% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

ISU NSU
% In-State 87% 65%
% Out-of-State 10% 31%

Campus

ISU 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

  • Idaho State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (12,301 students vs. 5,783 students)

ISU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or NSU?

  • Idaho State University is 3.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($5,928.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.3% higher at ISU than Norfolk State University ($23,906.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Idaho State University than NSU ($12,425 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Idaho State University are 42.2% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($7,626 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Idaho State University than Norfolk State University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 33% larger than aid received Idaho State University ($12,164 vs. $9,145)

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

  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at NSU (2.9)

ISU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU 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 ISU.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Idaho State University (33% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Idaho State University earn on average $5,600 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($42,300 vs. $36,700)
  • Idaho State University students graduate with a $8,050 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($22,950 vs. $31,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($237 vs. $320)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 27%)

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