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Norfolk, VA · Petersburg, VA
| Norfolk State University | Virginia State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,282/yr | $15,840/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,804/yr | $13,220/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $29,000 | $26,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,905/yr | $14,758/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,507/yr | $19,463/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $17,972/yr | $22,223/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $26,175/yr | $25,508/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $307/mo | $281/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,591/yr | $13,355/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,591/yr | $15,233/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $1,300/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,780/yr | $3,640/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $26,633/yr | $27,661/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,180/yr | $10,043/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $21,682/yr | $22,650/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 65% | 72% |
| Students taking federal loans | 64% | 76% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 88% | 89% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 823–1030 | 840–1070 |
| SAT average | 927 | 948 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 16–22 | 14–20 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 10,211 | 10,577 |
| Students accepted | 8,931 | 9,424 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,503 | 1,448 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 17% | 15% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 3% | 14% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 1% | 2% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 39% | 39% |
| Freshmen who come back | 73% | 69% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $44,666/yr | $45,543/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $25,584–$64,690 | $27,137–$65,094 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 43% | 46% |
| White students graduating | 42% | 50% |
| Black students graduating | 39% | 39% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 36% | 35% |
| Asian students graduating | 50% | 25% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $33,412/yr | $33,630/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 65% | 64% |
| Graduate on time | 15% | 24% |
| Pell students who graduate | 34% | 35% |
| First-gen students who finish | 39% | 39% |
| Low-income students who finish | 38% | 35% |
| Students who transfer out | 1% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $40,645/yr | $39,572/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 15% · Health Professions 13% · Psychology 13% | Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 10% · Education 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 13% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 10% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 13% of degrees | Education — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 8% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management — $59,924/yr | Educational Administration and Supervision — $94,220/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 16% | 18% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,392 | 5,074 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 643 | 481 |
| Average professor pay | $9,767/mo | $9,469/mo |
| Full-time professors | 54% | 65% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $26,072 | $30,103 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Norfolk, VA | Petersburg, VA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1935 | 1882 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 6.6% | 1.1% |
| Men | 32% | 41% |
| Women | 68% | 59% |
| White students | 1.8% | 2% |
| Black students | 80% | 83% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 4.7% | 6.2% |
| Asian students | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Two or more races | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Other / not reported | 1.2% | 2.2% |
| Special type | HBCU | HBCU |
| First-generation students | 37% | 34% |
| Part-time students | 7.8% | 3.9% |
| Students age 25+ | 14% | 7.7% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $13,530/yr | $15,660/yr |
| Endowment | $77.5M | $95.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,337 | 4,015 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,542/yr | $7,474/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,748/yr | $5,492/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | Land-grant institution |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Navy | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 11 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 367 | 163 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.1M | $2.1M |
| Athletics budget | $24.8M | $9.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $24.8M | $9.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $148,616 | $15,344 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.