North Carolina Central University vs. NSU

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

North Carolina Central University NSU
Location Durham, NC Norfolk, VA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 7,553 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #940 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Carolina Central University NSU
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $16,920
Room & Board $11,864 $10,844
Avg Net Price $13,708 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $16,168 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 91%

Admission

North Carolina Central University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,423 8,884
Admitted 7,107 7,951
Acceptance Rate 84.4% 89.5%
Enrolled % 15.2% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/23 15/20
SAT Range 810/1130 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 May 31, 2025

Academics

North Carolina Central University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

North Carolina Central University NSU
Graduation Rate 38% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $320

Diversity

North Carolina Central University NSU
% Men 30% 33%
% Women 70% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 6% 5%
% Black 81% 84%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

North Carolina Central University NSU
% In-State 65% 65%
% Out-of-State 29% 31%

Campus

North Carolina Central University NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina Central University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (7,553 students vs. 5,783 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Carolina Central University or NSU?

  • Norfolk State University is 54.3% more expensive to attend than North Carolina Central University for in-state tuition ($5,752.00 vs. $3,728.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.9% higher at NSU than North Carolina Central University ($16,920.00 vs. $16,764.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina Central University than NSU ($13,708 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 9.4% lower than costs at North Carolina Central University ($10,844 vs. $11,864)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina Central University than Norfolk State University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina Central University students is 32.9% larger than aid received Norfolk State University ($16,168 vs. $12,164)

North Carolina Central University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Carolina Central University (879) is 71 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming North Carolina Central University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (19) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman North Carolina Central University students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.27) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than North Carolina Central University (84.4%)

North Carolina Central University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Carolina Central University or NSU? 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 NSU and North Carolina Central University.

  • The graduation rate at North Carolina Central University is higher than Norfolk State University (38% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Norfolk State University earn on average $1,500 more per year than North Carolina Central University graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $35,200)
  • Norfolk State University and North Carolina Central University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($31,000 vs. $31,000)
  • Norfolk State University and North Carolina Central University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($320 vs. $320)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Carolina Central University students, three years after graduation. (27% vs. 23%)

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