University of West Alabama vs. NSU

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

University of West Alabama NSU
Location Livingston, AL Norfolk, VA
Setting Remote Rural Midsize City
Enrollment 5,860 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1007 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwa.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of West Alabama NSU
Tuition (In State) $9,100 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $18,200 $16,920
Room & Board $7,820 $10,844
Avg Net Price $13,786 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $9,291 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 91%

Admission

University of West Alabama NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,131 8,884
Admitted 2,156 7,951
Acceptance Rate 68.9% 89.5%
Enrolled % 14.4% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/21 15/20
SAT Range 880/980 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025 May 31, 2025

Academics

University of West Alabama NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (27%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (14%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

University of West Alabama NSU
Graduation Rate 28% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,500 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,489 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $273 $320

Diversity

University of West Alabama NSU
% Men 25% 33%
% Women 75% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 45% 5%
% Black 40% 84%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 6% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

University of West Alabama NSU
% In-State 81% 65%
% Out-of-State 13% 31%

Campus

University of West Alabama NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of West Alabama is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (5,860 students vs. 5,783 students)

University of West Alabama vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of West Alabama or NSU?

  • University of West Alabama is 58.2% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($9,100.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.6% higher at University of West Alabama than Norfolk State University ($18,200.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of West Alabama than NSU ($13,786 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of West Alabama are 38.7% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($7,820 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than University of West Alabama (91% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 30.9% larger than aid received University of West Alabama ($12,164 vs. $9,291)

University of West Alabama vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of West Alabama (930) is 122 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming University of West Alabama students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman University of West Alabama students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than University of West Alabama (68.9%)

University of West Alabama vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of West Alabama 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 University of West Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than University of West Alabama (33% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from University of West Alabama earn on average $1,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($38,500 vs. $36,700)
  • University of West Alabama students graduate with a $4,511 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($26,489 vs. $31,000)
  • University of West Alabama graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($273 vs. $320)
  • More University of West Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 27%)

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