Norfolk State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Norfolk State University charges a net price of $15,282/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $61,128. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,666, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Norfolk State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #40 of 81 Virginia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,282/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $61,128 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,666 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,694/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $29,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$135,008 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Norfolk State University's own numbers. Net price $15,282 × 4 years = $61,128 total. Median earnings $44,666 fall $3,694 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $61,128 bill in about 6.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Norfolk State University students graduate with?
A median $29,000 in federal loans among completers, or 65% of the $44,666 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Norfolk State University students graduate?
39% finish their degree — 61% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $61,128 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $156,738 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Norfolk State University expensive compared with other Virginia colleges?
Its $15,282 net price runs $3,784 below the $19,066 median across the 81 Virginia colleges we profile, and $15,136 less across the full degree.