A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at NSU are mostly Black with a small White population. The school has very low racial diversity. 95% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Norfolk State University is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) primarily serving the African-American community.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
5%
|
| Black |
84%
|
| Hispanic |
3%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
4%
|
| International |
0%
|
| Race Unknown |
3%
|
There are 54% more female students than male students enrolled at Norfolk State University with a gender ratio of 5% women to 3% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, NSU has a significantly lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is not inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
3%
|
| Women |
5%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
211
|
| Women |
324
|
NSU serves a low number of students outside of Virginia, with 65 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
65%
|
| Out of State |
31%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
4%
|
73% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 28.1% |
| Part time Undergrads | 16.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=232937 IPEDS survey data for Norfolk State University.
Last updated February 24, 2025