Central vs. NSU

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

 Central NSU
Location Warrensburg, MO Norfolk, VA
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 11,637 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #708 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucmo.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central NSU
Tuition (In State) $8,040 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $16,080 $16,920
Room & Board $9,699 $10,844
Avg Net Price $15,117 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $6,517 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 91%

Admission

 Central NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,993 8,884
Admitted 3,562 7,951
Acceptance Rate 71.3% 89.5%
Enrolled % 28.9% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 15/20
SAT Range 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 May 31, 2025

Academics

 Central NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

 Central NSU
Graduation Rate 50% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,441 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $320

Diversity

 Central NSU
% Men 46% 33%
% Women 54% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 77% 5%
% Black 11% 84%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 Central NSU
% In-State 88% 65%
% Out-of-State 11% 31%

Campus

 Central 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

  • University of Central Missouri is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (11,637 students vs. 5,783 students)

Central vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central or NSU?

  • University of Central Missouri is 39.8% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,040.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.2% higher at NSU than University of Central Missouri ($16,920.00 vs. $16,080.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Central ($14,652 vs. $15,117)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Missouri are 11.8% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($9,699 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Missouri than Norfolk State University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 86.7% larger than aid received University of Central Missouri ($12,164 vs. $6,517)

Central vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Missouri (1010) is 202 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming Central students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.78 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Central (71.3%)

Central vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central 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 Central.

  • The graduation rate at Central is higher than Norfolk State University (50% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from University of Central Missouri earn on average $4,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $36,700)
  • University of Central Missouri students graduate with a $8,559 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($22,441 vs. $31,000)
  • Central graduates are paying $88 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($232 vs. $320)
  • More Central graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 27%)

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