The
Norfolk State University owes its origins to the Norfolk State College that was established in 1935, amidst great economic turmoils in the nation in the form of the Great Depression.
The predominant mission of the university then was to provide America's youth with freedom of expression and assist them in achieving their dreams. During its initial years, the Norfolk State University was a branch of the Virginia Union University, but finally in 1942 it attained independent status and developed into the Norfolk Polytechnic College. But finally in 1951, the college was for a second time made part of another big college, the Virginia State College.
With another amendment in state legislations, the college was granted permissions to open its first Bachelor's degree program in 1956. Immense development and growth of the college forced the state government to grant it complete autonomy in 1969 and finally it translated into the present
Norfolk State University in 1979. The institution today, has earned a name as being an institute predominantly for African Americans and is one of the largest universities in the regions surrounding Hampton Roads. It can undoubtedly be rated as the best public university in the Hampton roads area which offers a vast array of both undergraduate and graduate level programs. The main mission of the university is to provide high quality education at moderate fees so that good education is made available to all sections of society. Another very significant factor that makes the university extremely popular among economically backward classes is, that it provides equal employment opportunity to all its students.
