Indiana State vs. NSU

Deciding between Indiana State University and Norfolk State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Indiana State University
Norfolk State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Indiana State Terre Haute, IN
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • Indiana State Small City
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Indiana State 7,895
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • Indiana State Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Indiana State
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Indiana State -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • Indiana State Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Indiana State
  • NSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Indiana State $10,258
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Indiana State $22,322
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • Indiana State $12,262
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • Indiana State $12,066
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Indiana State $12,383
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Indiana State 97%
  • NSU 75%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Indiana State 12,134
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • Indiana State 9,801
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Indiana State 80.8%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Indiana State 14.5%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Indiana State
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • Indiana State
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • Indiana State 3.29
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Indiana State B+
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Indiana State Unavailable
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Indiana State
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • Indiana State
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • Indiana State
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Indiana State Test-free
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Indiana State
  • NSU May 31, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Indiana State 16:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Indiana State
    • Business (14%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Indiana State 42%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Indiana State $40,400
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Indiana State 51%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Indiana State $23,720
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Indiana State $245
  • NSU $320
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Indiana State 43%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • Indiana State 57%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Indiana State Medium
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Indiana State No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • Indiana State 66%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • Indiana State 1%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • Indiana State 19%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • Indiana State 4%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Indiana State 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Indiana State 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Indiana State 4%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • Indiana State 6%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Indiana State 1%
  • NSU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Indiana State 85%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Indiana State 13%
  • NSU 2%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Indiana State Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Indiana State No
  • NSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Indiana State Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Indiana State No
  • NSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Indiana State Yes
  • NSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana State University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (7,895 students vs. 6,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana State University is located in Terre Haute, IN (Small City setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Indiana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana State University 16:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

Indiana State vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Indiana State or NSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Indiana State ($9,124 vs. $12,066).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 5.5% lower than at Indiana State University ($11,591 vs. $12,262).
  • Indiana State University is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $78 more per year; $10,258.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Indiana State than at Norfolk State University (about $640 more per year; $22,322.00 vs. $21,682.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana State University than at Norfolk State University (97% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 21.6% larger than aid received by Indiana State University students ($15,056 vs. $12,383).

Indiana State vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Indiana State or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and Indiana State.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Indiana State - Test-free; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Indiana State students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Indiana State (80.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at Indiana State vs. 13.2% at NSU.

Indiana State vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Indiana State and NSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Indiana State University's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Indiana State University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana State University graduates have a $7,280 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($23,720 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, Indiana State graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($245 vs. $320).
  • More Indiana State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 27%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.