NSU vs. SU

Deciding between Norfolk State University and Shenandoah University? 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
Shenandoah University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • SU Winchester, VA
  • Setting
  • NSU Midsize City
  • SU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 6,053
  • SU 4,454
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #988
  • SU #528
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • SU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $10,180
  • SU $36,950
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $21,682
  • SU $36,950
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $11,591
  • SU $12,490
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $9,124
  • SU $27,181
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $15,056
  • SU $24,747
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 75%
  • SU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 11,247
  • SU 4,200
  • Admitted
  • NSU 9,871
  • SU 3,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 87.8%
  • SU 77%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 13.2%
  • SU 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 930
  • SU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 19
  • SU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 2.9
  • SU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • SU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • SU
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 16/22
  • SU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 823/1030
  • SU 1010/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • SU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU May 31, 2027
  • SU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 15:1
  • SU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • SU
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Biology (4%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 33%
  • SU 30%
  • % Women
  • NSU 67%
  • SU 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU Very Low
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • NSU Yes
  • SU No
  • % White
  • NSU 5%
  • SU 59%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 1%
  • SU 3%
  • % Black
  • NSU 84%
  • SU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 3%
  • SU 6%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 0%
  • SU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 4%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • NSU 0%
  • SU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 3%
  • SU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 65%
  • SU 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 2%
  • SU 38%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Norfolk State University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (6,053 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Norfolk State University is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); Shenandoah University is in Winchester, VA (Small City setting).
  • Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Norfolk State University 15:1; Shenandoah University 12:1.

NSU vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or SU? 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 SU ($9,124 vs. $27,181).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 7.2% lower than at Shenandoah University ($11,591 vs. $12,490).
  • Shenandoah University is 263% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $26,770 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.4% higher at SU than at Norfolk State University (about $15,268 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $21,682.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University than at Norfolk State University (100% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 64.4% larger than aid received by Norfolk State University students ($24,747 vs. $15,056).

NSU vs. SU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Shenandoah University (1120) is 190 points higher than at NSU (930).
  • Incoming SU 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; Shenandoah University 1010/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Norfolk State University 16/22; Shenandoah University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; SU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027; SU Aug 1, 2027.
  • 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 (87.8%) than SU (77%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.2% at NSU vs. 16.7% at SU.

NSU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and SU? 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).

  • Shenandoah University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Shenandoah University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, SU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.