NSU vs. Old Dominion

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

NSU Old Dominion
Location Norfolk, VA Norfolk, VA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 5,783 23,107
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1008 #624
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nsu.edu odu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NSU Old Dominion
Tuition (In State) $5,752 $7,239
Tuition (Out of State) $16,920 $26,664
Room & Board $10,844 $13,480
Avg Net Price $14,652 $16,098
Avg Grant Aid $12,164 $9,058
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 92%

Admission

NSU Old Dominion
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,884 14,435
Admitted 7,951 13,734
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 95.1%
Enrolled % 16.4% 22.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.9 3.3
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 22/27
SAT Range 840/1040 1090/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 31, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

NSU Old Dominion
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

NSU Old Dominion
Graduation Rate 33% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,700 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 27% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $320 $242

Diversity

NSU Old Dominion
% Men 33% 44%
% Women 67% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU Yes No
% White 5% 47%
% Black 84% 27%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 6%

Students

NSU Old Dominion
% In-State 65% 90%
% Out-of-State 31% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Old Dominion University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (23,107 students vs. 5,783 students)

NSU vs. Old Dominion Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or Old Dominion?

  • Old Dominion University is 25.9% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,239.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 57.6% higher at Old Dominion than Norfolk State University ($26,664.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Old Dominion ($14,652 vs. $16,098)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 24.3% lower than costs at Old Dominion University ($10,844 vs. $13,480)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Old Dominion University than Norfolk State University (92% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 34.3% larger than aid received Old Dominion University ($12,164 vs. $9,058)

NSU vs. Old Dominion Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Old Dominion University (1020) is 212 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming Old Dominion students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman Old Dominion students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • Old Dominion has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than NSU (89.5%)

NSU vs. Old Dominion Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NSU or Old Dominion? 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 Old Dominion and NSU.

  • The graduation rate at Old Dominion is higher than Norfolk State University (50% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Old Dominion University earn on average $10,900 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $36,700)
  • Old Dominion University students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $31,000)
  • Old Dominion graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($242 vs. $320)
  • More Old Dominion graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 27%)

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