Longwood University vs. NSU

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

Longwood University NSU
Location Farmville, VA Norfolk, VA
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 4,545 6,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #637 #999
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website longwood.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Longwood University NSU
Tuition (In State) $8,660 $5,926
Tuition (Out of State) $20,870 $17,428
Room & Board $15,887 $11,692
Avg Net Price $22,900 $12,272
Avg Grant Aid $10,869 $11,153
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

Longwood University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,078 10,211
Admitted 5,154 8,931
Acceptance Rate 84.8% 87.5%
Enrolled % 15.4% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/25 16/21
SAT Range 1020/1190 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

Longwood University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Longwood University NSU
Graduation Rate 60% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,200 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $320

Diversity

Longwood University NSU
% Men 8% 3%
% Women 21% 5%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 75% 5%
% Black 9% 84%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

Longwood University NSU
% In-State 93% 65%
% Out-of-State 6% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than Longwood University based on total student enrollment (6,045 students vs. 4,545 students)

Longwood University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Longwood University or NSU?

  • Longwood University is 46.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,660.00 vs. $5,926.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.7% higher at Longwood University than Norfolk State University ($20,870.00 vs. $17,428.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Longwood University ($12,272 vs. $22,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 35.9% lower than costs at Longwood University ($11,692 vs. $15,887)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Longwood University than Norfolk State University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 2.6% larger than aid received Longwood University ($11,153 vs. $10,869)

Longwood University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Longwood University (985) is 177 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming Longwood University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman Longwood University students have a 0.69 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Longwood University (84.8%)

Longwood University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Longwood 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 Longwood University.

  • The graduation rate at Longwood University is higher than Norfolk State University (60% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Longwood University earn on average $6,500 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($43,200 vs. $36,700)
  • Longwood University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
  • Longwood University graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($258 vs. $320)
  • More Longwood University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 27%)

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