SCF vs. NSU

Deciding between State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota 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.

State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota
Norfolk State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCF Bradenton, FL
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • SCF Large Suburban
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCF 8,750
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • SCF Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCF
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCF -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • SCF Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCF
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCF $3,074
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCF $11,595
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • SCF $26,718
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • SCF $22,034
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCF $6,668
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCF 61%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCF -
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • SCF -
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCF Open
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • SCF Open
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCF
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCF
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCF 3.1
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCF B
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCF Unavailable
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCF
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • SCF
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • SCF
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCF Open admission
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCF
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCF 23:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCF
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (76%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (2%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (2%)
    • Legal Professions (2%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCF -
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCF $33,700
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCF 35%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCF $8,610
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCF $89
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCF 36%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • SCF 64%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCF Medium
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • SCF No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • SCF 66%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • SCF 2%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • SCF 9%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCF 15%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • SCF 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCF 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCF 2%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • SCF 2%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCF 3%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCF 100%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCF 0%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota in Bradenton, FL with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (8,750 students vs. 6,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is located in Bradenton, FL (Large Suburban setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota 23:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

SCF vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCF 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 SCF ($9,124 vs. $22,034).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 56.6% lower than at State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota ($11,591 vs. $26,718).
  • Norfolk State University is 231.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCF (about $7,106 more per year; $10,180.00 vs. $3,074.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87% higher at NSU than at State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota (about $10,087 more per year; $21,682.00 vs. $11,595.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Norfolk State University than at State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota (75% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 125.8% larger than aid received by State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota students ($15,056 vs. $6,668).

SCF vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCF 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 SCF.

  • State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCF - Open admission; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SCF students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at NSU (2.9).

SCF vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCF 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).

  • Graduates from Norfolk State University earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than SCF graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $33,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota graduates have a $22,390 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($8,610 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, SCF graduates have an estimated $231 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($89 vs. $320).
  • More SCF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.