Navigating Admission: Understanding GPA and Academic Requirements at Norfolk State University

Norfolk State University (NSU) provides diverse academic opportunities, and understanding its admission and academic standards is key for prospective and current students. This article breaks down the GPA requirements, acceptance rates, and other academic standards at NSU.

Admission Overview

Norfolk State University has an acceptance rate of 87.5%, indicating that it is lightly selective. For first-year students applying for the Spring or Fall 2024 term, NSU offers a test-optional policy, meaning that submitting official ACT/SAT scores is not mandatory for admission. However, students may still submit an essay of no more than 650 words for scholarship consideration; essay topics can be found within the application portal.

GPA Considerations

The average GPA at Norfolk State University is 2.9, suggesting that NSU accepts students with below-average GPAs, where a mix of B's and C's in a high school record is typical. Aiming for a GPA of 2.9 or higher will increase the chances of admission.

Standardized Testing Policies

Norfolk State University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores, it's likely test flexible.

While NSU is test-optional for the Spring and Fall 2024 terms, standardized test scores can still play a role in the admissions process. The 25th percentile SAT score is 840, and the 75th percentile is 1040. The average ACT score is 18, with the 25th percentile at 16 and the 75th percentile at 19. Aiming for a 840 SAT or a 16 ACT or higher increases the likelihood of admission.

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Holistic Review

Keep in mind that the admission decision relies not only on GPA and SAT/ACT scores but also on coursework difficulty, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.

Academic Standards for Current Students

Norfolk State University has academic standards that students must meet to remain in school. Students are expected to study and perform to the best of their abilities. Students receiving financial aid from federal, state, or institutional funds administered by the Office of Financial Aid must meet the academic standards required of all students, as well as the standards required by specific financial aid programs. Academic standards of the University are outlined in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs, and academic departments of the University.

GPA Requirements for Graduation

A minimum of 240 quality points and 120 completed semester hours (a 2.0 or "C" average) is required for graduation. All departmental and school requirements must also be met. The University requires students to earn a minimum grade of “C” in all courses required by their degree program, including required courses in other disciplines. Satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion is determined by the number of semester hours completed and the number of quality points earned.

Course Load

The normal course load for a full-time undergraduate student is 15 and no more than 19 semester hours. Students with a 3.00 grade point average or above may carry additional hours ONLY with appropriate approval by the academic advisor/department chairperson and school dean. A course load in excess of 19 semester hours must be approved by the Dean of the School in which the student’s major is housed. For graduate students, the normal course load for a full-time graduate student is 9 and no more than 15 semester hours.

Academic Honors

A Dean’s List and an Honor Roll are compiled at the end of each fall and spring term and apply only to full-time (12-hour minimum) students. Eligibility for the Dean’s List requires a minimum 3.50 term G.P.A. with no "I" (incomplete) or missing grades and no grade less than a "C". Eligibility for the Honor Roll requires a term G.P.A. Students who have completed all degree requirements and have met the following criteria at the time degree requirements have been met will earn an honors designation.

Honors designations are based on the degree candidate’s academic record the semester prior to Commencement. Degree candidates who have earned an honors designation will be recognized in the commencement program provided the honors designation was earned in the semester immediately preceding the anticipated commencement date.

Grading System Policies

Information regarding the grading system is described in the Academic Standards section. 1 Pass/fail grades are not available to graduate students, except in those courses designated for pass/fail credit.

The "I" (Incomplete) grade may be used by the instructor during the final grading period when the course requirements have not been met because of illness or some other extenuating circumstance. In order to receive an "I" grade, the student must be passing the course and have completed 80% of all coursework. Except for cases such as internships, student teaching, or final projects that may require more time, students have until the 7th week of the following semester to complete and submit missed assignments as indicated on the Incomplete Contract. If work is not submitted by the due date, the default grade will be entered by the Registrar.

A student who received a final grade less than an "A" in a course may repeat the course. The course to be repeated must be taken at Norfolk State University or the original institution offering the course (i.e., through consortium or cross registration agreement) and taken prior to completion of the degree at Norfolk State University. The normal registration procedure must be followed when registering for repeat courses, and the grade earned will be posted to the student’s record. The credit and quality points for the highest grade earned (one grade only) will be used to calculate the student’s cumulative G.P.A. All courses attempted (the original course attempted and the grade for that course) will remain on the student’s permanent record and will appear on the transcript.

Students must complete at least 67% of all courses attempted in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Courses that are not considered as “completed,” but still count as hours attempted are failed (F) courses, incomplete (I) courses, dropped (D) courses and withdrawn (W) courses. These minimum standards must be met in order for a student to be considered for any state, federal, or institutional financial assistance. Aid will be terminated for any student who does not maintain the minimum standard or qualitative measurements.

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Academic Probation and Suspension

Students who are on probation and do not achieve the required grade point average after two warnings are subject to suspension from the University. Any appeals received after this date may be deferred until the following semester. The appeal is submitted to the Suspension Appeals Committee and its decision is final. Students suspended from the University for academic reasons must appeal the suspension prior to being re-admitted.

Demonstrating Competencies

The administration and faculty of Norfolk State University are committed to providing a high-quality education for students. Among other things, this commitment requires providing documented evidence that students are competent in six areas: writing, information literacy, oral communication, quantitative reasoning, scientific reasoning, and critical thinking. As a result, with advance notice, students will be required to demonstrate competency in one or more of these areas before graduating from the University. Assessment of the remaining competencies is embedded in the related general education core courses.

Graduate School Requirements

The requirements which are listed below apply to all graduate students at Norfolk State University. It is the student’s responsibility to be knowledgeable of and comply with all policies, procedures, and regulations.

A regular full-time graduate student must be enrolled in nine (9) credit hours to 15 credit hours per semester during the academic year. Grades in all courses taken as a graduate student are used in determining whether a student has met the GPA of 3.00 (“B”) requirement to remain in good academic standing. Students whose GPA falls substantially below 3.0 may be suspended or dismissed (see table below), based on guidelines established by the academic program and approved by the Graduate Council. Students who have been suspended for a year, upon re-admission, will be advised by their Graduate Program Coordinator/Director (GPC/GPD) on how to improve their GPA. They will be required to do so within the next completed 12 credit hours. Students who have been dismissed from their program and wish to return will be required to submit an application for admission as a new graduate student.

The grade point system, based upon all graduate hours graded at Norfolk State University is used to calculate student scholarship.

Students who desire to attend courses but do not wish to receive course credit may audit such courses, with permission from the instructor. Even though no grade will be received for the course, the student is required to pay the required fee. To audit a course the student must complete the Course Request Form and place an “AU” in the “Tuition Hours” column of the form. The instructor’s signature should be placed in the “Comments” column on the same line as the audited course. The auditing student is expected to attend classes regularly but is not required to submit assignments or take examinations. Changing from audit to credit or from credit to audit is permitted only during the scheduled “Add” period.

Students wishing to make a curriculum change from one track/concentration to another within a graduate degree program must execute the Change of Curriculum form. This form must be signed by the program officer of the graduate program in which the student is enrolled. The Change of Curriculum form may not be used to make a change from one graduate degree program to another because admissions requirements for graduate programs vary.

A grade of “I” is assigned when a student has maintained a passing average but for reasons beyond his/her control, the course requirements have not been met. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the instructor to remove the “I” grade. The instructor will set a time limit, usually no later than mid-term of the next semester, for the removal of the 'I'. After a one (1) year time limit, the “I” grade will automatically change to the “F” grade.

A student who has received a final grade of B- or lower in a course may repeat the course. Students must consult with their academic advisors regarding minimum course grade requirements and policies for repeating courses. The course to be repeated must be taken at Norfolk State University and taken prior to completion of the degree at Norfolk State University. The normal registration procedure must be followed when registering for repeat courses, and the grade earned will be posted to the student’s record. The credit and quality points for the highest grade earned (one grade only) will be used to calculate the student’s GPA.

The minimum residency requirement for a graduate degree is one academic year. This residency requirement reflects the graduate faculty’s concern that students experience sustained academic concentration directly related to the degree sought. Therefore, it is required that graduate students pursue their studies as fully participating members of their respective programs for a minimum of one academic year.

A student matriculating at Norfolk State University in a master’s degree program will be expected to complete all requirements for his/her degree within a five-calendar year period. In both master's and PhD programs, it's essential for students to familiarize themselves with the specific time limit policies of their institution and program, as well as to communicate regularly with their academic advisors or graduate program coordinators. A reasonable exception to the time limit may be granted to a student by written petition to the Graduate Program Coordinator prior to the expiration of the time limit. Students requesting an exception must also submit a plan of action for completing all degree requirements. Exception requests are reviewed and approved at the program level and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Research for final approval. Approvals are granted for no more than one year and only two exceptions are allowed. Students and Graduate Program Coordinators are notified in writing of extension approvals. the credits were earned within five (5) years prior to registration. Transfer credits are not included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average.

A graduate student may officially withdraw, voluntarily and without penalty, from a course in accordance with the dates stipulated in the University Calendar. To withdraw, a student must file a withdrawal petition that is available in the academic unit or the Registrar’s office. Students who withdraw from all courses after the second week of the semester are considered to have been enrolled for the semester. Fees for students who withdraw or reduce their course load will be adjusted in accordance with the University’s Fee Adjustment Schedule which is printed in the Registration Booklet.

University policy requires a student to complete an Application for Withdrawal when enrollment is terminated before the end of a semester or summer session. The Application for Withdrawal may be obtained from the department head/advisor or the Registrar’s Office and must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the last day of class. The student should discuss the matter with their advisor or Program Coordinator/Director before processing the Application for Withdrawal.

Additional Resources

Office of Admissions: For specific inquiries about admission requirements and application procedures.
Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs: Detailed information on academic standards, grading policies, and degree requirements.
Office of Financial Aid: Information on financial aid eligibility and academic progress requirements.
Academic Advisors: Guidance on course selection, academic progress, and graduation requirements.
Spartans All Inclusive Learning (SAIL): A course material model that reduces the cost of materials for students and ensures they have all their materials across all courses prior to the first day of class.

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