Eastern vs. NSU

Deciding between Eastern Kentucky University 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.

Eastern Kentucky University
Norfolk State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Eastern Richmond, KY
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • Eastern Distant Town
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Eastern 15,673
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • Eastern Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Eastern #886
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Eastern -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • Eastern Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Eastern
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Eastern $10,320
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Eastern $21,230
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • Eastern $12,268
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • Eastern $12,279
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Eastern $11,468
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Eastern 98%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Eastern 17,024
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • Eastern 13,212
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Eastern 77.6%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Eastern 19.9%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Eastern 980
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • Eastern 22
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • Eastern 3.39
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Eastern B+
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Eastern Very Easy
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Eastern
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • Eastern 19/25
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • Eastern 880/1080
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Eastern Test optional
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Eastern Aug 1, 2027
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Eastern 17:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Eastern
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Eastern 38%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Eastern $37,900
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Eastern 49%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Eastern $23,695
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Eastern $245
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Eastern 39%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • Eastern 61%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Eastern Very Low
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Eastern No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • Eastern 85%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • Eastern 1%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • Eastern 6%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • Eastern 2%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Eastern 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Eastern 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Eastern 2%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • Eastern 2%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Eastern 1%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Eastern 91%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Eastern 9%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Kentucky University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (15,673 students vs. 6,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, KY (Distant Town setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Eastern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Kentucky University 17:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

Eastern vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern 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 Eastern ($9,124 vs. $12,279).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 5.5% lower than at Eastern Kentucky University ($11,591 vs. $12,268).
  • Eastern Kentucky University is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $140 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at NSU than at Eastern Kentucky University (about $452 more per year; $21,682.00 vs. $21,230.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Kentucky University than at Norfolk State University (98% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 31.3% larger than aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students ($15,056 vs. $11,468).

Eastern vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Eastern or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and Eastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Kentucky University (980) is 50 points higher than at NSU (930).
  • Incoming Eastern students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 19 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Kentucky University 880/1080; Norfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Kentucky University 19/25; Norfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Eastern - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Eastern Aug 1, 2027; NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Eastern students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Eastern (77.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Eastern vs. 13.2% at NSU.

Eastern vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Eastern and NSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Eastern Kentucky University's six-year graduation rate (38%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Kentucky University graduates have a $7,305 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($23,695 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, Eastern graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($245 vs. $320).
  • More Eastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.