BC vs. CNU

Deciding between Bridgewater College 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.

Bridgewater College
Christopher Newport University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • BC Small Suburban
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 1,448
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #623
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $16,090
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $16,090
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • BC $14,850
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $11,316
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $47,288
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 100%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 3,938
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • BC 3,612
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 91.7%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 10.1%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1190
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.61
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A-
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Difficult
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • BC
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1020/1360
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC May 1, 2027
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 13:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 59%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $43,100
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 77%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $27,000
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $279
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 52%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • BC 48%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Low
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • BC 73%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • BC 1%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • BC 11%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 5%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 5%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • BC 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 4%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 80%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 19%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, 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 BC based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BC vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC 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 Bridgewater College than CNU ($11,316 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 16.1% lower than at Bridgewater College ($12,460 vs. $14,850).
  • Christopher Newport University is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $738 more per year; $16,828.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 93.8% higher at CNU than at Bridgewater College (about $15,088 more per year; $31,178.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Christopher Newport University (100% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 350.6% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($47,288 vs. $10,494).

BC vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC 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 BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bridgewater College (1190) is 10 points higher than at CNU (1180).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater College 1020/1360; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsChristopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027; CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at BC (3.61).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than CNU (86%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at BC vs. 18% at CNU.

BC vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC 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 Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)

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.