Norfolk, Virginia · Public · 4-year · Midsize city
Overview
Norfolk State University is a public four-year institution based in Norfolk, Virginia. The campus sits in a midsize city. Fall 2024 enrollment was 6,053, made up of 5,410 undergraduates and 643 graduate students. It is a historically Black college or university.
Norfolk State University offers certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees across 51 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Business/Commerce, Social Work, and Psychology, General. It awarded 1,011 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. 4 of its programs can be completed entirely online.
73% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 15 to 1.
Key figures
6,053
Students enrolled
73%
First-year retention
1,011
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
51
Programs and majors
15:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateAssociateBachelorMasterPhD
Programs and majors offered 51
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
73%
Student-to-faculty ratio
15:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
771
Master's degrees
232
Doctoral degrees (research)
7
Postbaccalaureate certificates
1
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
6,053
Undergraduates, fall 2024
5,410
Graduate students, fall 2024
643
Full-time, fall 2024
89%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
6,790
Undergraduates, 2024-25
5,931
Graduate students, 2024-25
859
Full-time, 2024-25
84%
Size category
5,000 to 9,999 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
67%
Men
33%
White
3%
Hispanic or Latino
5%
Black or African American
77%
Two or more races
5%
International (U.S. nonresident)
6%
Race or ethnicity unknown
3%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
4
Programs with a fully online option
13
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Online graduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
13%
Students taking some online courses
85%
Campus and services
Setting
Midsize city
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Research designation
Research Colleges and Universities
Athletic association
NCAA
Athletic conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
President and Chief Executive Officer
Javaune Adams-Gaston
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, ROTC, Teacher certification, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, On-campus day care, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Yellow Ribbon Program, Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization