WKU vs. NSU

Deciding between Western 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.

Western Kentucky University
Norfolk State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • WKU Small City
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • WKU 16,291
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WKU #970
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WKU -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • WKU Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WKU
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WKU $11,652
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WKU $27,000
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • WKU $12,582
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • WKU $12,548
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WKU $10,921
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WKU 99%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WKU 9,840
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • WKU 9,237
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WKU 93.9%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • WKU 30.2%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WKU 950
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • WKU 18
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • WKU 3.42
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WKU B+
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • WKU
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • WKU 16/21
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • WKU 840/1050
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WKU Test optional
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WKU 19:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WKU 50%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WKU $37,100
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WKU 47%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WKU $24,250
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WKU $250
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WKU 38%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • WKU 62%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WKU Low
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • WKU No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • WKU 76%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • WKU 1%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • WKU 10%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • WKU 3%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • WKU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WKU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WKU 3%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • WKU 6%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WKU 1%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WKU 66%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WKU 33%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Western Kentucky University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 6,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Western 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: Western Kentucky University 19:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

WKU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU 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 WKU ($9,124 vs. $12,548).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 7.9% lower than at Western Kentucky University ($11,591 vs. $12,582).
  • Western Kentucky University is 14.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $1,472 more per year; $11,652.00 vs. $10,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.5% higher at WKU than at Norfolk State University (about $5,318 more per year; $27,000.00 vs. $21,682.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University than at Norfolk State University (99% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 37.9% larger than aid received by Western Kentucky University students ($15,056 vs. $10,921).

WKU vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WKU 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 WKU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Kentucky University (950) is 20 points higher than at NSU (930).
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (19 vs. 18 at WKU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 840/1050; Norfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 16/21; Norfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WKU - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WKU Aug 1, 2027; NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than NSU (87.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.2% at WKU vs. 13.2% at NSU.

WKU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WKU 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).

  • Western Kentucky University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Western Kentucky University earn a median of about $400 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Kentucky University graduates have a $6,750 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($24,250 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, WKU graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($250 vs. $320).
  • More WKU 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.