NSU vs. UWO

Deciding between Norfolk State University and University of Wisconsin Oshkosh? 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.

Norfolk State University
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • UWO Oshkosh, WI
  • Setting
  • NSU Midsize City
  • UWO Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 6,053
  • UWO 12,953
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • UWO Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #988
  • UWO #793
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • UWO -
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • UWO Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • UWO
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $10,180
  • UWO $8,532
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $21,682
  • UWO $16,446
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $11,591
  • UWO $9,410
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $9,124
  • UWO $12,500
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $15,056
  • UWO $6,605
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 75%
  • UWO 51%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 11,247
  • UWO 7,660
  • Admitted
  • NSU 9,871
  • UWO 6,626
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 87.8%
  • UWO 86.5%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 13.2%
  • UWO 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 930
  • UWO
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 19
  • UWO 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 2.9
  • UWO 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B
  • UWO B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • UWO Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • UWO
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 16/22
  • UWO 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 823/1030
  • UWO
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • UWO Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU May 31, 2027
  • UWO
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 15:1
  • UWO 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • UWO
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NSU 33%
  • UWO 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NSU $36,700
  • UWO $44,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NSU 27%
  • UWO 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NSU $31,000
  • UWO $23,748
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NSU $320
  • UWO $245
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 33%
  • UWO 41%
  • % Women
  • NSU 67%
  • UWO 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU Very Low
  • UWO Very Low
  • HBCU
  • NSU Yes
  • UWO No
  • % White
  • NSU 5%
  • UWO 87%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 1%
  • UWO 4%
  • % Black
  • NSU 84%
  • UWO 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 3%
  • UWO 4%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 0%
  • UWO 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • UWO 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 4%
  • UWO 2%
  • % International
  • NSU 0%
  • UWO 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 3%
  • UWO 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 65%
  • UWO 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 2%
  • UWO 10%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA with University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (12,953 students vs. 6,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Norfolk State University is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is in Oshkosh, WI (Small City setting).
  • Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Norfolk State University 15:1; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 22:1.

NSU vs. UWO Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or UWO? 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 UWO ($9,124 vs. $12,500).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh are 18.8% lower than at Norfolk State University ($9,410 vs. $11,591).
  • Norfolk State University is 19.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWO (about $1,648 more per year; $10,180.00 vs. $8,532.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.8% higher at NSU than at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (about $5,236 more per year; $21,682.00 vs. $16,446.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Norfolk State University than at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (75% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 127.9% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students ($15,056 vs. $6,605).

NSU vs. UWO Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU or UWO? 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 UWO and NSU.

  • Incoming UWO students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Norfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Norfolk State University 16/22; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; UWO - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UWO students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than UWO (86.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.2% at NSU vs. 21.4% at UWO.

NSU vs. UWO Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and UWO? 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).

  • University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,100 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates have a $7,252 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($23,748 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, UWO graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($245 vs. $320).
  • More UWO graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.