CNU vs. Penn State

Deciding between Christopher Newport University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CNU 4,454
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CNU #378
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CNU -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CNU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CNU $16,828
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CNU $31,178
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • CNU $12,460
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • CNU $23,148
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CNU $10,494
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CNU 64%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CNU 7,341
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • CNU 6,316
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CNU 86%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • CNU 18%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CNU 1180
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • CNU 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • CNU 3.79
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CNU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • CNU Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CNU
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • CNU 25/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CNU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CNU 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CNU 63%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CNU $47,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CNU 78%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CNU $25,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CNU $258
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CNU 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • CNU 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CNU Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • CNU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • CNU 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • CNU 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • CNU 8%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • CNU 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • CNU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CNU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CNU 5%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • CNU 0%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CNU 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CNU 92%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CNU 5%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than CNU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Christopher Newport University is located in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Christopher Newport University 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

CNU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNU or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($23,148 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 13.9% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($12,460 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 22.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $3,816 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34% higher at Penn State than at Christopher Newport University (about $10,612 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Christopher Newport University than at Penn State Main Campus (64% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 8% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($11,336 vs. $10,494).

CNU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CNU or Penn State? 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 Penn State and CNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 150 points higher than at CNU (1180).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at CNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Christopher Newport University 1060/1290; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Christopher Newport University 25/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CNU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at CNU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

CNU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CNU and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Christopher Newport University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than CNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.