Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, serving roughly 5,392 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 87.77% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $44,666 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $10,180
- 2024 Average Net Price: $15,282 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 87.77% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 5,392 92.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 38.50%
- Average SAT Score: 927
Norfolk State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Norfolk State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Norfolk State University?
Norfolk State University is located in Norfolk, VA (ZIP 23504-8000).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Norfolk State University public or private?
Norfolk State University is a Public institution.
How much does Norfolk State University cost?
Published tuition: $10,180 in-state, $21,682 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $15,282.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,804 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,905 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,507 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,972 |
| $110,001+ | $26,175 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $40,720.
How hard is it to get into Norfolk State University?
Admission rate: 87.77%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 927 and midpoint ACT 18.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Norfolk State University?
Total enrollment: 5,392 students.
About 92% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Norfolk State University?
150%-time completion rate: 38.50%.
First-year retention: 72.6%.
What do graduates of Norfolk State University earn?
Median earnings: $33,412 six years after entry; $44,666 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $29,000.
64.97% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Norfolk State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (941 completions)
- General Psychology (115 completions)
- Business Administration, Management, & Operations (106 completions)
- Social Work (82 completions)
- Other Multidisciplinary Studies (72 completions)
- Health & Medical Administrative Services (61 completions)
- CIP 099999 (51 completions)
- Sociology (51 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (47 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (31 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Norfolk State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 87.77%; completion rate 38.50%; median earnings $44,666 at 10 years; net price $15,282. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$10,180
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Norfolk State University was $10,180.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$15,282
2024 Value
In 2024 Norfolk State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,282.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$61,128 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$15,282 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$40,720 4-Year In-State Tuition
$86,728 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Norfolk State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
64.97% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
63.88% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Norfolk State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Norfolk State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,126 | $20,596 | $11,901 |
| 2014 | $7,552 | $20,236 | $11,920 |
| 2015 | $8,366 | $20,124 | $13,258 |
| 2016 | $8,738 | $20,340 | $15,304 |
| 2017 | $9,036 | $20,478 | $15,259 |
| 2018 | $9,490 | $20,658 | $15,155 |
| 2019 | $9,622 | $20,790 | $12,645 |
| 2020 | $9,622 | $20,790 | $15,657 |
| 2021 | $9,622 | $20,790 | $12,643 |
| 2022 | $9,622 | $20,790 | $15,577 |
| 2023 | $9,910 | $21,412 | $12,973 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
87.77% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 927
ACT Average: 18
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
92.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Norfolk State University in 2024 is 5,392 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
15.09% 100% Completion Time
38.50% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 15.09% of students graduating from Norfolk State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Norfolk State University.
Return on Investment
$29,000 Median Student Debt
$44,666 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
64.93% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
630.70% Return on Investment
6.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Norfolk State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
General Psychology: 115 completions
Business Administration, Management, & Operations: 106 completions
Social Work: 82 completions
Other Multidisciplinary Studies: 72 completions
Health & Medical Administrative Services: 61 completions
CIP 09.9999: 51 completions
Sociology: 51 completions
General Biological Sciences: 47 completions
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services: 31 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 941 completions
Most popular programs at Norfolk State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Norfolk State University graduates.
About
Norfolk State University is a public institution located in Norfolk, VA, offering 42 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 5,392 students. The admission rate is 87.77%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 927. The institution maintains a 38.50% graduation rate. Approximately 64.97% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Norfolk, VA 23504-8000
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 38.50% graduation rate at Norfolk State University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
FAQ
How much does Norfolk State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $10,180 and average net price is $15,282 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Norfolk State University?
The admission rate is 87.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Norfolk State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Norfolk State University reports midpoint SAT about 927 and midpoint ACT about 18.
What do graduates of Norfolk State University earn?
Median earnings are $33,412 six years after entry and $44,666 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Norfolk State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 38.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Norfolk State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $29,000.
How big is Norfolk State University?
Total enrollment is about 5,392 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Norfolk State University public or private?
Norfolk State University is a public institution located in Norfolk, VA.
Is Norfolk State University an HBCU?
Yes. Norfolk State University is flagged as a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in IPEDS.
Is Norfolk State University a tribal college?
No. Norfolk State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Norfolk State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Norfolk State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 4.7%).
Is Norfolk State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Norfolk State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.