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VSU Old Dominion Hampton University Bowie State University ECSU Delaware State University Fayetteville State University Morgan State WSSU North Carolina Central University Coppin RU| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | Norfolk State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PAFA | NSU | ||
| Location | Philadelphia, PA | Norfolk, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 172 | 5,783 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1008 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pafa.org | nsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PAFA | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,500 | $5,752 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,500 | $16,920 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,512 | $10,844 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $48,191 | $14,652 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,087 | $12,164 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 80% | 91% |
Admission |
PAFA | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 183 | 8,884 | ||
| Admitted | 167 | 7,951 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.3% | 89.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.4% | 16.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 15/20 | |||
| SAT Range | 840/1040 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2025 | May 31, 2025 |
Academics |
PAFA | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PAFA | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 73% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $22,000 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 27% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,500 | $31,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $274 | $320 |
Diversity |
PAFA | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 61% | 5% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 84% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 3% |
Students |
PAFA | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 53% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 42% | 31% | ||
Campus |
PAFA | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Norfolk State University is larger than than PAFA based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 172 students)
PAFA vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PAFA or NSU?
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 604.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($40,500.00 vs. $5,752.00)
- Out of state tuition is 139.4% higher at PAFA than Norfolk State University ($40,500.00 vs. $16,920.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than PAFA ($14,652 vs. $48,191)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 61.5% lower than costs at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($10,844 vs. $17,512)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (91% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students is 32.3% larger than aid received Norfolk State University ($16,087 vs. $12,164)
PAFA vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PAFA or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or PAFA .
- PAFA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than NSU (89.5%)
PAFA vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PAFA 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 PAFA.
- The graduation rate at PAFA is higher than Norfolk State University (73% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from Norfolk State University earn on average $14,700 more per year than PAFA graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $22,000)
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($26,500 vs. $31,000)
- PAFA graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($274 vs. $320)
- More PAFA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 27%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/