NSU vs. WVSU

Deciding between Norfolk State University and West Virginia State 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
West Virginia State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • WVSU Institute, WV
  • Setting
  • NSU Midsize City
  • WVSU Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 6,053
  • WVSU 3,246
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • WVSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #988
  • WVSU #1010
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • WVSU -
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • WVSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • WVSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $10,180
  • WVSU $9,570
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $21,682
  • WVSU $14,990
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $11,591
  • WVSU $13,522
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $9,124
  • WVSU $11,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $15,056
  • WVSU $8,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 75%
  • WVSU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 11,247
  • WVSU 6,163
  • Admitted
  • NSU 9,871
  • WVSU 5,914
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 87.8%
  • WVSU 96%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 13.2%
  • WVSU 5.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 930
  • WVSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 19
  • WVSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 2.9
  • WVSU 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B
  • WVSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • WVSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • WVSU
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 16/22
  • WVSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 823/1030
  • WVSU 760/1040
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • WVSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU May 31, 2027
  • WVSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 15:1
  • WVSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • WVSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NSU 33%
  • WVSU 25%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NSU $36,700
  • WVSU $32,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NSU 27%
  • WVSU 35%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NSU $31,000
  • WVSU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NSU $320
  • WVSU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 33%
  • WVSU 42%
  • % Women
  • NSU 67%
  • WVSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU Very Low
  • WVSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • NSU Yes
  • WVSU Yes
  • % White
  • NSU 5%
  • WVSU 65%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 1%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Black
  • NSU 84%
  • WVSU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 3%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 4%
  • WVSU 10%
  • % International
  • NSU 0%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 3%
  • WVSU 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 65%
  • WVSU 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 2%
  • WVSU 32%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA with West Virginia State University in Institute, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Norfolk State University is larger than WVSU based on total student enrollment (6,053 students vs. 3,246 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Norfolk State University is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); West Virginia State University is in Institute, WV (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Norfolk State University 15:1; West Virginia State University 13:1.

NSU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or WVSU? 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 WVSU ($9,124 vs. $11,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 14.3% lower than at West Virginia State University ($11,591 vs. $13,522).
  • Norfolk State University is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVSU (about $610 more per year; $10,180.00 vs. $9,570.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.6% higher at NSU than at West Virginia State University (about $6,692 more per year; $21,682.00 vs. $14,990.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia State University than at Norfolk State University (88% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 67.4% larger than aid received by West Virginia State University students ($15,056 vs. $8,993).

NSU vs. WVSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Norfolk State University (930) is 30 points higher than at WVSU (900).
  • Incoming NSU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (19 vs. 17 at WVSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Norfolk State University 823/1030; West Virginia State University 760/1040.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Norfolk State University 16/22; West Virginia State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; WVSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WVSU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • WVSU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than NSU (87.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.2% at NSU vs. 5.5% at WVSU.

NSU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and WVSU? 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).

  • Norfolk State University's six-year graduation rate (33%) is higher than West Virginia State University's (25%).
  • Graduates from Norfolk State University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than WVSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia State University graduates have a $7,750 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($23,250 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, WVSU graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($240 vs. $320).
  • More WVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.