Norfolk State vs South Carolina State University

Norfolk State University and South Carolina State University, both historically Black universities, offer unique educational experiences for students seeking a diverse and enriching college environment. Norfolk State, located in Virginia, boasts a higher acceptance rate (84%) compared to South Carolina State's 74%, making it a more accessible option for prospective students. While South Carolina State has a slightly larger student body, Norfolk State's student population is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students. Both universities offer a range of popular majors, including nursing, business, and education, but Norfolk State has a stronger focus on STEM fields, while South Carolina State excels in agricultural programs. With graduation rates of 44% and 39% respectively, both institutions are committed to providing students with the support and resources they need to succeed. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two esteemed institutions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Norfolk State University logo

Norfolk State University

South Carolina State University logo

South Carolina State University

Overview

Location Norfolk, Virginia Orangeburg, South Carolina
Campus setting City: Midsize Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 66.0% 69.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 88.6% 87.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $25
SAT range 860 - 1083 800 - 1050
ACT range 15 - 20 15 - 19
Students submitting SAT score 19.0% 6.0%
Students submitting ACT score 5.0% 9.0%
Total number of applicants 6,490 2,497
Total number of admissions given out 5,753 2,187
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,113 586
Yield rate 19.3% 26.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,710

Out of state: $37,878
In state: $31,060

Out of state: $41,750
Average net price $12,264 $20,901
Tuition
In state: $5,752

Out of state: $16,920
In state: $9,528

Out of state: $20,218
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,206

Meal plan: $3,638
Room/dormitory: $6,600

Meal plan: $3,290
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $11,764
87.0%
Average amount $9,737
Students receiving federal student loan 73.0%
Average amount $8,821
63.0%
Average amount $5,707
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $14,029
1.0%
Average amount $14,500

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,016
Men 32.3% Women 67.7%
2,074
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Graduate students 442
Men 36.7% Women 63.3%
300
Men 24.3% Women 75.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 13.2%
International students 1.2% 0.1%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 2,917 1,369
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A South Carolina Georgia Florida North Carolina California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Health Professions
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 37.1% 30.4%
Dropout rate 32.8% 35.7%
Transferred out 27.1% 30.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,411
  • Year 2: $45,500
  • Year 3: $48,385
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,654
  • Year 2: $45,305
  • Year 3: $47,407
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,881
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $81,719
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,798
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $53,072
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,160
  • Year 2: $41,464
  • Year 3: $45,205
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,987
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: $40,381
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,494
  • Year 2: $32,213
  • Year 3: $37,475
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,569
  • Year 3: $36,398
Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,194
  • Year 2: $27,403
  • Year 3: $34,308
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,752
  • Year 2: $24,863
  • Year 3: $34,167
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $17,125
  • Year 2: $23,340
  • Year 3: $31,468
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,870
  • Year 2: $20,444
  • Year 3: $30,521

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