NSU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Deciding between Norfolk State University and University of Wisconsin River Falls? 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
University of Wisconsin River Falls

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI
  • Setting
  • NSU Midsize City
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 6,053
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,243
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #988
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls #768
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls -
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $10,180
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $9,008
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $21,682
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $17,470
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $11,591
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $7,982
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $9,124
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $14,769
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $15,056
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $4,176
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 75%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 11,247
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,519
  • Admitted
  • NSU 9,871
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 4,510
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 87.8%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 13.2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 25.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 930
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 19
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 2.9
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 16/22
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 823/1030
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU May 31, 2027
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 15:1
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
    • Agriculture (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NSU 33%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NSU $36,700
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $44,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NSU 27%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NSU $31,000
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $22,725
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NSU $320
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $234

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 33%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 37%
  • % Women
  • NSU 67%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU Very Low
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Very Low
  • HBCU
  • NSU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • % White
  • NSU 5%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 89%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Black
  • NSU 84%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 3%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 4%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % International
  • NSU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 3%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 65%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 47%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 52%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NSU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NSU No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • Meal Plan
  • NSU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NSU No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • Daycare Facility
  • NSU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA with University of Wisconsin River Falls in River Falls, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Norfolk State University is larger than University of Wisconsin-River Falls based on total student enrollment (6,053 students vs. 5,243 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Norfolk State University is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin River Falls is in River Falls, WI (Distant Town setting).
  • Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin River Falls is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Norfolk State University 15:1; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19:1.

NSU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or University of Wisconsin-River Falls? 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 University of Wisconsin-River Falls ($9,124 vs. $14,769).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin River Falls are 31.1% lower than at Norfolk State University ($7,982 vs. $11,591).
  • Norfolk State University is 13% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Wisconsin-River Falls (about $1,172 more per year; $10,180.00 vs. $9,008.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.1% higher at NSU than at University of Wisconsin River Falls (about $4,212 more per year; $21,682.00 vs. $17,470.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin River Falls than at Norfolk State University (81% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 260.5% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin River Falls students ($15,056 vs. $4,176).

NSU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU or University of Wisconsin-River Falls? 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 University of Wisconsin-River Falls and NSU.

  • Incoming University of Wisconsin-River Falls 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.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Norfolk State University 16/22; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; University of Wisconsin-River Falls - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Wisconsin-River Falls students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than University of Wisconsin-River Falls (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.2% at NSU vs. 25.1% at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

NSU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and University of Wisconsin-River Falls? 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).

  • University of Wisconsin River Falls's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,100 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin River Falls graduates have a $8,275 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($22,725 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($234 vs. $320).
  • More University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.