Quad

Norfolk State University

Norfolk, VAQuad's selectivityOpen
Known forEconomic diversityTest-optional heavyApplications grew 4× since fall 2014
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Norfolk State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (88%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 28% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

88%

88%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

11,247

Admitted

9,871

Yield

13%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

823–1030

4001600
ACT middle 50%

16–22

1236
Applications +299% since fall 2014 · admit rate 66% → 88%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 5,392 undergrads, where 65% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

5.4K

undergrads · larger than 79% of colleges

Diversity index

0.35

Pell Grant

65%

above the median

First generation

37%

above the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-I FCS · Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.30 → 0.35 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business/Commerce, General (14% of graduates). 15 students for every faculty member, more than at 66% of colleges. 54% of faculty are full-time. Spends $13,530 a year on instruction per student.

15 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 66% of colleges

Most popular major

Business/Commerce, General

14% of 2024–25 graduates

Full-time faculty

54%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$13.5K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $19,950 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $4.3K less than the national median. The 75% who received grants paid $9,124 on average; the other 25% paid the full sticker price of $27,502 in-state / $39,004 out-of-state.

36%

$20K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $4.3K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$27,502 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 36% of full price

Federal loans

64%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · +2% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $44,666 ten years after enrolling, more than at 23% of colleges; 43% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.8 years of that salary.

43%

43%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$44.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$29K

≈ $307/month for 10 years

Retention

73%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 33% → 39% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 4% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 299% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 66% to 88%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +2% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +299%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 66% → 88%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.30 → 0.35

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Virginia State University

89% admit · SAT 955 · 5.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Albany State University

6K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso SoutheastAlso public
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North Carolina Central University

87% admit · 6.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast
Compare side-by-side

Jackson State University

93% admit · SAT 945 · 4.6K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Southeast
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Norfolk State University (2026)

    Norfolk State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 232937 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything