NSU vs. RU

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

NSU RU
Location Norfolk, VA Radford, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 5,783 7,718
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1008 #566
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nsu.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NSU RU
Tuition (In State) $5,752 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $16,920 $20,246
Room & Board $10,844 $10,567
Avg Net Price $14,652 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $12,164 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 96%

Admission

NSU RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,884 11,442
Admitted 7,951 10,680
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 93.3%
Enrolled % 16.4% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.9 3.31
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 19/23
SAT Range 840/1040 960/1160
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, 2025

Academics

NSU RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

NSU RU
Graduation Rate 33% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,700 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 27% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $237

Diversity

NSU RU
% Men 33% 33%
% Women 67% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 5% 71%
% Black 84% 13%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

NSU RU
% In-State 65% 89%
% Out-of-State 31% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Radford University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 5,783 students)

NSU vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or RU?

  • Radford University is 41.8% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.7% higher at RU than Norfolk State University ($20,246.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than RU ($14,652 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 2.6% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($10,567 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Norfolk State University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 25% larger than aid received Radford University ($12,164 vs. $9,733)

NSU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman RU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than NSU (89.5%)

NSU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NSU or RU? 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 RU and NSU.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Norfolk State University (56% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $10,700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $36,700)
  • Radford University students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $31,000)
  • RU graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($237 vs. $320)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 27%)

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