South Carolina State University vs. NSU

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

South Carolina State University NSU
Location Orangeburg, SC Norfolk, VA
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 2,649 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1011 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website scsu.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

South Carolina State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $9,528 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $20,218 $16,920
Room & Board $9,000 $10,844
Avg Net Price $17,435 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $15,873 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 91%

Admission

South Carolina State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,833 8,884
Admitted 5,733 7,951
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 89.5%
Enrolled % 15.7% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/19 15/20
SAT Range 800/1050 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 Jul 31, 2025 May 31, 2025

Academics

South Carolina State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

South Carolina State University NSU
Graduation Rate 35% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,000 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 27% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $33,205 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $343 $320

Diversity

South Carolina State University NSU
% Men 44% 33%
% Women 56% 67%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 2% 5%
% Black 96% 84%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

South Carolina State University NSU
% In-State 77% 65%
% Out-of-State 23% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than South Carolina State University based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 2,649 students)

South Carolina State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Carolina State University or NSU?

  • South Carolina State University is 65.6% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($9,528.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.5% higher at South Carolina State University than Norfolk State University ($20,218.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than South Carolina State University ($14,652 vs. $17,435)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Carolina State University are 20.5% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($9,000 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at South Carolina State University than Norfolk State University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Carolina State University students is 30.5% larger than aid received Norfolk State University ($15,873 vs. $12,164)

South Carolina State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Norfolk State University (808) is 48 points higher than at South Carolina State University (760)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (17) than students at South Carolina State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman South Carolina State University students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than South Carolina State University (83.9%)

South Carolina State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, South Carolina State 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 South Carolina State University.

  • The graduation rate at South Carolina State University is higher than Norfolk State University (35% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Norfolk State University earn on average $5,700 more per year than South Carolina State University graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $31,000)
  • Norfolk State University students graduate with a $2,205 lower median federal student loan debt than South Carolina State University graduates. ($31,000 vs. $33,205)
  • NSU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than South Carolina State University graduates. ($320 vs. $343)
  • More South Carolina State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (27% vs. 27%)

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