by our College Data Analytics TeamHome to about 4,992 undergraduates in 2020, Norfolk State University is a public university located in Norfolk, Virginia. This urban setting might be best suited for students who like the fast-paced city life. Should you tire of the campus however, Norfolk State University offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Norfolk State University can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Norfolk State University Guide to Distance and Online Learning.
The Higher Education Act of 1965 established historically black colleges and universities as institutions whose principal mission was the education of African-Americans. Today, the HBCU designation does not necessitate that Norfolk State University is exclusively or even predominantly African-American (though it currently is). Thanks to integration efforts, there are HBCUs with non-black majorities and non-HBCUs with black majorities. For more information you can review the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Norfolk State University Disability Services.
While not a "service academy", Norfolk State University does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit Norfolk State University Veteran Services . For more information, check out our Norfolk State University for Veterans Guide.
For students with young families, Norfolk State University does offer some day care. Programs like this are often in very high demand, so be sure to inquire as soon as you can.
Norfolk State University offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.
* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.
There were 4,992 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 4,529 (90.7%). Part-time attendance was 463 (9.3%).
| Full-time | Part-time | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 4,529 | 463 | 4,992 |
Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Norfolk State University is about average in terms of overall diversity. We rank Norfolk State University #2042 out of 3,451.
The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.
You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Norfolk State University by looking closer at the ethnic, gender, age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Norfolk State University Diversity Guide.
Norfolk State University has a total of 357 student athletes, 237 men and 120 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.
For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Norfolk State University Athletics