PVAMU vs. NSU

Deciding between Prairie View A & M University and Norfolk 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.

Prairie View A & M University
Norfolk State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PVAMU #1003
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PVAMU -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PVAMU
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PVAMU 82%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PVAMU 970
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • PVAMU 18
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PVAMU B+
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • PVAMU
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PVAMU Required
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PVAMU 34%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PVAMU 28%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PVAMU $299
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PVAMU 34%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • PVAMU 66%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • PVAMU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • PVAMU 3%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • PVAMU 3%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • PVAMU 86%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • PVAMU 6%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • PVAMU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PVAMU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PVAMU 1%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • PVAMU 2%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PVAMU 0%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PVAMU 86%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PVAMU 14%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, TX with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prairie View A & M University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 6,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Prairie View A & M University is located in Prairie View, TX (Distant Town setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie View A & M University 17:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

PVAMU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVAMU or NSU? 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 PVAMU ($9,124 vs. $14,448).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 11% lower than at Norfolk State University ($10,317 vs. $11,591).
  • Prairie View A & M University is 11% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $1,119 more per year; $11,299.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.9% higher at PVAMU than at Norfolk State University (about $5,192 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $21,682.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie View A & M University than at Norfolk State University (82% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Norfolk State University students ($15,769 vs. $15,056).

PVAMU vs. NSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Prairie View A & M University (970) is 40 points higher than at NSU (930).
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (19 vs. 18 at PVAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 860/1080; Norfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 16/21; Norfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PVAMU - Required; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027; NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman PVAMU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at PVAMU vs. 13.2% at NSU.

PVAMU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVAMU and NSU? 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).

  • Prairie View A & M University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Prairie View A & M University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Prairie View A & M University graduates have a $2,045 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($28,955 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, PVAMU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($299 vs. $320).
  • More PVAMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (28% 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.