SHU vs. NSU

Deciding between Sacred Heart 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.

Sacred Heart University
Norfolk State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHU Fairfield, CT
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • SHU Large Suburban
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SHU 11,022
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • SHU Private 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHU
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHU Roman Catholic
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • SHU Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHU
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHU $50,404
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHU $50,404
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • SHU $19,140
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • SHU $47,848
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHU $21,625
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHU 99%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHU 16,495
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • SHU 10,781
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHU 65.4%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • SHU 17.5%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHU
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHU
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHU 3.55
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHU A-
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHU Unavailable
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHU Low
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • SHU
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • SHU
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHU Test-free
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SHU
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHU 15:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHU
    • Business (36%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHU 68%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHU $59,700
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHU 76%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHU $25,000
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHU $258
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHU 36%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • SHU 64%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHU Low
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • SHU No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • SHU 71%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • SHU 2%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • SHU 4%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHU 8%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • SHU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHU 2%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • SHU 1%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHU 12%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHU 23%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHU 76%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 6,053 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

SHU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU 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 SHU ($9,124 vs. $47,848).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 39.4% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($11,591 vs. $19,140).
  • Sacred Heart University is 395.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $40,224 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 132.5% higher at SHU than at Norfolk State University (about $28,722 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $21,682.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Norfolk State University (99% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 43.6% larger than aid received by Norfolk State University students ($21,625 vs. $15,056).

SHU vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and SHU.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresNorfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresNorfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman SHU students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than SHU (65.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 13.2% at NSU.

SHU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and NSU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($258 vs. $320).
  • More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.