CHC vs. NSU

Deciding between Chestnut Hill College and Norfolk State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Chestnut Hill College
Norfolk State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CHC Philadelphia, PA
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • CHC Large City
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CHC 1,288
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • CHC Private 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CHC #816
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CHC Roman Catholic
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • CHC Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CHC
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CHC $39,870
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CHC $39,870
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • CHC $12,600
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • CHC $28,588
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CHC $29,590
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CHC 100%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CHC 2,964
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • CHC 2,207
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CHC 74.5%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • CHC 7.2%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CHC 1000
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • CHC
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • CHC 3.12
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CHC B
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • CHC Extremely Easy
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CHC Low
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • CHC
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • CHC 900/1090
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CHC Test-free
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CHC
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CHC 10:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CHC
    • Human Services (21%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CHC 44%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CHC $45,300
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CHC 47%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CHC $26,481
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CHC $273
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CHC 36%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • CHC 64%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CHC High
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • CHC No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • CHC 40%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • CHC 2%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • CHC 37%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • CHC 9%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • CHC 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CHC 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CHC 4%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • CHC 3%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CHC 5%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CHC 57%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CHC 37%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CHC Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CHC No
  • NSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • CHC Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CHC Yes
  • NSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CHC No
  • NSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Norfolk State University is larger than CHC based on total student enrollment (6,053 students vs. 1,288 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chestnut Hill College is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Chestnut Hill College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chestnut Hill College 10:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

CHC vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CHC or NSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than CHC ($9,124 vs. $28,588).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 8% lower than at Chestnut Hill College ($11,591 vs. $12,600).
  • Chestnut Hill College is 291.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $29,690 more per year; $39,870.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83.9% higher at CHC than at Norfolk State University (about $18,188 more per year; $39,870.00 vs. $21,682.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chestnut Hill College than at Norfolk State University (100% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chestnut Hill College students is 96.5% larger than aid received by Norfolk State University students ($29,590 vs. $15,056).

CHC vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CHC or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and CHC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Chestnut Hill College (1000) is 70 points higher than at NSU (930).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Chestnut Hill College 900/1090; Norfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresNorfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CHC - Test-free; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman CHC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than CHC (74.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at CHC vs. 13.2% at NSU.

CHC vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CHC and NSU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Chestnut Hill College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Chestnut Hill College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,300 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Chestnut Hill College graduates have a $4,519 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($26,481 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, CHC graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($273 vs. $320).
  • More CHC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 27%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.