AU vs. CNU

Deciding between Averett University and Christopher Newport University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Averett University
Christopher Newport University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Danville, VA
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • AU Small City
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 1,476
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #637
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $38,550
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $38,550
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • AU $14,530
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $23,471
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $29,998
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 99%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 2,573
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • AU 1,456
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 56.6%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 18.1%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1030
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 21
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.07
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU B
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Moderate
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • AU 15/28
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • AU 926/1143
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 16:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 41%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $48,400
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 51%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $25,000
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $258
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 45%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • AU 55%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU Medium
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • AU 1%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • AU 33%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 4%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • AU 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 0%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • AU 4%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 0%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 54%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 39%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • CNU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • CNU No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • CNU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU No
  • CNU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU No
  • CNU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Averett University in Danville, VA with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Christopher Newport University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Averett University is located in Danville, VA (Small City setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Averett University 16:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

AU vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or CNU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Christopher Newport University than AU ($23,148 vs. $23,471).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 14.2% lower than at Averett University ($12,460 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 129.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $21,722 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.6% higher at AU than at Christopher Newport University (about $7,372 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Averett University than at Christopher Newport University (99% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 185.9% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($29,998 vs. $10,494).

AU vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or CNU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CNU and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Christopher Newport University (1180) is 150 points higher than at AU (1030).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 21 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Averett University 926/1143; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Averett University 15/28; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.72 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at AU (3.07).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at AU vs. 18% at CNU.

AU vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and CNU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Christopher Newport University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Averett University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than CNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University and AU graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Christopher Newport University and AU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.