More selective than 35% of Virginia colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
3% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 1% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Norfolk State University over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
GPA and test scores of entering students
The middle 50% of first-time students who enrolled at Norfolk State University, as the state reports them, including high school GPA (federal data has no GPA). The source doesn't say whether GPAs are weighted; each college reports them as it records them.
| Entering | GPA | SAT | ACT | CLT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | 2.58–3.36 | 883–1018 | — | — |
| Fall 2025 | 2.59–3.37 | 820–998 | — | — |
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), B10 Admissions: First Time Freshman Profile, 2026-27. Entering freshmen 1204; reporting SAT 64, ACT NA, GPA 1204 ACT omitted: 11 students reported; Entering freshmen 1511; reporting SAT 128, ACT 11, GPA 1511
Norfolk State University SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. Enrolled ranges differ from admitted ranges above, because not every admitted student enrolls.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 430 | 520 |
| SAT math | 393 | 510 |
| ACT composite | 16 | 22 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 823 | 1030 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Norfolk State University admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 88% | 430–520 | 393–510 | 16–22 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 87% | 430–575 | 410–525 | 16–21 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Norfolk State University compared with other Virginia colleges?
Norfolk State University has the 27th-lowest acceptance rate of 41 Virginia colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Emory & Henry University | 84% | 56% | $19,061 |
| 24 | Christopher Newport University | 86% | 72% | $23,015 |
| 25 | Randolph-Macon College | 87% | 70% | $27,866 |
| 26 | George Mason University | 87% | 68% | $17,915 |
| 27 | Norfolk State University | 88% | 39% | $15,282 |
| 28 | Virginia State University | 89% | 39% | $15,840 |
| 29 | Ferrum College | 89% | 32% | $20,082 |
| 30 | Radford University | 90% | 49% | $14,578 |
| 31 | Longwood University | 90% | 61% | $19,066 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Virginia colleges →
Who enrolls at Norfolk State University
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Norfolk State University admissions questions
What is the Norfolk State University acceptance rate?
Norfolk State University accepts 88% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 8,931 of 10,211 applicants were admitted.
Does Norfolk State University require the SAT or ACT?
Norfolk State University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 3% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 1% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Norfolk State University?
The middle 50% of Norfolk State University enrolled first-year students scored 823–1030 on the SAT and 16–22 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Norfolk State University?
17% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (1,503 of 8,931).
Is Norfolk State University getting harder to get into?
Norfolk State University accepted 88% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 87% for Fall 2023.
Is Norfolk State University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Norfolk State University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Norfolk State University overview