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Old Dominion VSU Longwood University Hampton University JMU Bowie State University ECSU Virginia Tech VCU Delaware State University Mason University of Lynchburg| Norfolk State University | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NSU | RU | ||
| Location | Norfolk, VA | Radford, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,045 | 7,531 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #999 | #449 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nsu.edu | radford.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NSU | RU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,926 | $8,401 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,428 | $20,853 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,692 | $11,973 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,272 | $18,282 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,153 | $8,968 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 99% |
Admission |
NSU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,211 | 11,072 | ||
| Admitted | 8,931 | 10,036 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.5% | 90.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.8% | 11% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 2.9 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/21 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 840/1100 | 950/1170 | ||
| 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 |
NSU | RU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 12:1 | ||
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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 | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 19% | ||
| 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% | 88% | ||
| % 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 (7,531 students vs. 6,045 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 ($8,401.00 vs. $5,926.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19.7% higher at RU than Norfolk State University ($20,853.00 vs. $17,428.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than RU ($12,272 vs. $18,282)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 2.4% lower than costs at Radford University ($11,692 vs. $11,973)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Norfolk State University (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 24.4% larger than aid received Radford University ($11,153 vs. $8,968)
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 (90.6%) than NSU (87.5%)
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/