College · Catholic life on campus
Norfolk State University
- LocationNorfolk, VA
- Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 6,045 students
Norfolk State University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.
Catholic churches nearby
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception — 1.2 mi
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church — 2.1 mi · 520 Graydon Avenue, Norfolk
- Christ the King Catholic Church — 2.2 mi · 1813 Columbia Avenue, Norfolk
- Saint Pauls Catholic Church — 2.5 mi · 522 High Street, Portsmouth
Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.
Catholic life scorecard
Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.
Catholic life on campus
Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.
Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.
Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.
My rating and notes
Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.39%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.73%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 927 · ACT 19
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.15 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$13,530
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
Cost and value
Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 5,510 |
|---|---|
| Total students | 6,045 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $15,282 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $26,633 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $29,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 39% |
| First-year retention | 73% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $44,666 |
| Admission rate | 88% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 65% |
| Average SAT | 927 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 430–520 |
| SAT math | 393–510 |
| ACT composite | 16–22 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value index: 35 / 100 (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Local Church
The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of Richmond
Formal address: “Your Excellency”
Source: richmonddiocese.org, richmonddiocese.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.
Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 232937
- Carnegie classification: Master's university (medium programs)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Questions families ask
- Is Norfolk State University a Catholic college?
- No. Norfolk State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.
Reviews
Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.
No reviews yet.
Sign in to write a review.
More in Virginia · Virginia rankings