CNU vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney

Deciding between Christopher Newport University and Hampden Sydney College? 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.

Christopher Newport University
Hampden Sydney College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Hampden-Sydney, VA
  • Setting
  • CNU Midsize City
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • CNU 4,454
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 946
  • Type
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CNU #378
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CNU -
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney -
  • Status
  • CNU Non-profit
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CNU
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CNU $16,828
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney $54,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CNU $31,178
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney $54,550
  • Room & Board
  • CNU $12,460
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney $16,732
  • Average Net Price
  • CNU $23,148
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney $29,717
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CNU $10,494
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney $40,720
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CNU 64%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CNU 7,341
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 3,177
  • Admitted
  • CNU 6,316
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 1,300
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CNU 86%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 40.9%
  • Enrolled
  • CNU 18%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 22.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CNU 1180
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • CNU 27
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • CNU 3.79
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CNU A-
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CNU Challenging
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • CNU
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Low
  • ACT Range
  • CNU 25/30
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 1030/1250
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CNU Test optional
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CNU 13:1
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney
    • Social Sciences (37%)
    • History (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CNU 63%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CNU $47,100
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney $54,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CNU 78%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CNU $25,000
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CNU $258
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CNU 47%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 100%
  • % Women
  • CNU 53%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 0%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CNU Low
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Low
  • HBCU
  • CNU No
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney No
  • % White
  • CNU 74%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 81%
  • % Asian
  • CNU 3%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 1%
  • % Black
  • CNU 8%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • CNU 5%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 2%
  • % Native American
  • CNU 0%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CNU 0%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CNU 5%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 6%
  • % International
  • CNU 0%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CNU 5%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CNU 92%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 57%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CNU 5%
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney 43%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CNU Yes
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CNU No
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney No
  • Meal Plan
  • CNU Yes
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CNU No
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CNU No
  • HSC- Hampden-Sydney No

Comparable Facts

Compare Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA with Hampden Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Christopher Newport University is larger than HSC- Hampden-Sydney based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 946 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Christopher Newport University is located in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting); Hampden Sydney College is in Hampden-Sydney, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampden Sydney College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Christopher Newport University 13:1; Hampden Sydney College 9:1.

CNU vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNU or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney ($23,148 vs. $29,717).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 25.5% lower than at Hampden Sydney College ($12,460 vs. $16,732).
  • Hampden Sydney College is 224.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $37,722 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75% higher at HSC- Hampden-Sydney than at Christopher Newport University (about $23,372 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampden Sydney College than at Christopher Newport University (100% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hampden Sydney College students is 288% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($40,720 vs. $10,494).

CNU vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CNU or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney and CNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Christopher Newport University (1180) is 40 points higher than at HSC- Hampden-Sydney (1140).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at HSC- Hampden-Sydney).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Christopher Newport University 1060/1290; Hampden Sydney College 1030/1250.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Christopher Newport University 25/30; Hampden Sydney College 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CNU - Test optional; HSC- Hampden-Sydney - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027; HSC- Hampden-Sydney Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at HSC- Hampden-Sydney (3.53).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than HSC- Hampden-Sydney (40.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at CNU vs. 22.8% at HSC- Hampden-Sydney.

CNU vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CNU and HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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).

  • Hampden Sydney College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Christopher Newport University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Hampden Sydney College earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than CNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,000 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HSC- Hampden-Sydney students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.