NSU vs. Randolph

Deciding between Norfolk State University and Randolph College? 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.

Norfolk State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Randolph Lynchburg, VA
  • Setting
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Randolph Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 6,053
  • Randolph 816
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • Randolph Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #988
  • Randolph
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • Randolph United Methodist
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Randolph Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • Randolph

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $10,180
  • Randolph $30,310
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $21,682
  • Randolph $30,310
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $11,591
  • Randolph $12,350
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $9,124
  • Randolph $21,668
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $15,056
  • Randolph $23,372
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 75%
  • Randolph 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 11,247
  • Randolph 2,416
  • Admitted
  • NSU 9,871
  • Randolph 2,264
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Randolph 93.7%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Randolph 11.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 930
  • Randolph 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 19
  • Randolph 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 2.9
  • Randolph 3.35
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B
  • Randolph B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Randolph Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • Randolph
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 16/22
  • Randolph 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Randolph 1100/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • Randolph Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU May 31, 2027
  • Randolph

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 15:1
  • Randolph 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Randolph
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • History (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NSU 33%
  • Randolph 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NSU $36,700
  • Randolph $43,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NSU 27%
  • Randolph 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NSU $31,000
  • Randolph $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NSU $320
  • Randolph $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 33%
  • Randolph 41%
  • % Women
  • NSU 67%
  • Randolph 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU Very Low
  • Randolph Medium
  • HBCU
  • NSU Yes
  • Randolph No
  • % White
  • NSU 5%
  • Randolph 68%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 1%
  • Randolph 2%
  • % Black
  • NSU 84%
  • Randolph 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 3%
  • Randolph 6%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 0%
  • Randolph 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • Randolph 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 4%
  • Randolph 4%
  • % International
  • NSU 0%
  • Randolph 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 3%
  • Randolph 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 65%
  • Randolph 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 2%
  • Randolph 21%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA with Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Norfolk State University is larger than Randolph based on total student enrollment (6,053 students vs. 816 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Norfolk State University is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); Randolph College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Randolph College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Norfolk State University 15:1; Randolph College 8:1.

NSU vs. Randolph Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or Randolph? 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 Randolph ($9,124 vs. $21,668).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 6.1% lower than at Randolph College ($11,591 vs. $12,350).
  • Randolph College is 197.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $20,130 more per year; $30,310.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.8% higher at Randolph than at Norfolk State University (about $8,628 more per year; $30,310.00 vs. $21,682.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Randolph College than at Norfolk State University (100% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Randolph College students is 55.2% larger than aid received by Norfolk State University students ($23,372 vs. $15,056).

NSU vs. Randolph Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU or Randolph? 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 Randolph and NSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Randolph College (1160) is 230 points higher than at NSU (930).
  • Incoming Randolph students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 19 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Norfolk State University 823/1030; Randolph College 1100/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Norfolk State University 16/22; Randolph College 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; Randolph - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Randolph students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.35) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • Randolph has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than NSU (87.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.2% at NSU vs. 11.7% at Randolph.

NSU vs. Randolph Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and Randolph? 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).

  • Randolph College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Randolph College earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,200 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Randolph College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, Randolph graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($279 vs. $320).
  • More Randolph graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.