NSU vs. SU

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

 NSU SU
Location Norfolk, VA Winchester, VA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 5,783 4,260
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1008 #537
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nsu.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NSU SU
Tuition (In State) $5,752 $33,790
Tuition (Out of State) $16,920 $33,790
Room & Board $10,844 $11,230
Avg Net Price $14,652 $26,143
Avg Grant Aid $12,164 $23,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 100%

Admission

 NSU SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,884 2,296
Admitted 7,951 1,845
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 80.4%
Enrolled % 16.4% 25.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.9 3.7
Typical High School Grades B- A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 19/26
SAT Range 840/1040 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline May 31, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 NSU SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 NSU SU
Graduation Rate 33% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,700 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 27% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $258

Diversity

 NSU SU
% Men 33% 32%
% Women 67% 68%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 5% 59%
% Black 84% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 13%

Students

 NSU SU
% In-State 65% 52%
% Out-of-State 31% 48%

Campus

 NSU SU
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

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 4,260 students)

NSU vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or SU?

  • Shenandoah University is 487.4% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99.7% higher at SU than Norfolk State University ($33,790.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than SU ($14,652 vs. $26,143)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 3.6% lower than costs at Shenandoah University ($10,844 vs. $11,230)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Norfolk State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 92.9% larger than aid received Norfolk State University ($23,467 vs. $12,164)

NSU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Shenandoah University (1005) is 197 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming SU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than SU (80.4%)

NSU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SU is higher than Norfolk State University (45% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $11,600 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $36,700)
  • Shenandoah University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
  • SU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($258 vs. $320)
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 27%)

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