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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass JMU UB NC State Michigan State Mason Clemson| Christopher Newport University | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CNU | Penn State | ||
| Location | Newport News, VA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,559 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #390 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cnu.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CNU | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,375 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,613 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,990 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,287 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,022 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 44% |
Admission |
CNU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,428 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 6,340 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.4% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1290 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
CNU | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CNU | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,100 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $277 |
Diversity |
CNU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
CNU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 6% | 40% | ||
Campus |
CNU | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than CNU based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 4,559 students)
CNU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CNU or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 95.9% more expensive to attend than CNU for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $9,375.00)
- Out of state tuition is 59% higher at Penn State than Christopher Newport University ($35,946.00 vs. $22,613.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Christopher Newport University than Penn State ($23,287 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 6.3% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($11,990 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Christopher Newport University than Penn State Main Campus (66% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 25.5% larger than aid received Christopher Newport University ($10,066 vs. $8,022)
CNU vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CNU or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or CNU .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 47 points higher than at CNU (1155)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at CNU (25)
- CNU has a higher acceptance rate (85.4%) than Penn State (55.2%)
CNU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CNU or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and CNU.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Christopher Newport University (87% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $8,200 more per year than CNU graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $47,100)
- Christopher Newport University students graduate with a $1,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,818)
- CNU graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans 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/