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JMU Mason Old Dominion Mary Washington College Virginia Tech VCU Longwood University William & Mary UVA VSU Elon Roanoke College| Christopher Newport University | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CNU | RU | ||
| Location | Newport News, VA | Radford, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 4,559 | 7,718 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #390 | #566 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cnu.edu | radford.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CNU | RU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,375 | $8,156 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,613 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,990 | $10,567 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,287 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,022 | $9,733 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 96% |
Admission |
CNU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,428 | 11,442 | ||
| Admitted | 6,340 | 10,680 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.4% | 93.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 11.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 19/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1290 | 960/1160 | ||
| 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 | RU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CNU | RU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,100 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $237 |
Diversity |
CNU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
CNU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 6% | 11% | ||
Campus |
CNU | RU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Radford University is larger than than CNU based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 4,559 students)
CNU vs. RU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CNU or RU?
- Christopher Newport University is 14.9% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($9,375.00 vs. $8,156.00)
- Out of state tuition is 11.7% higher at CNU than Radford University ($22,613.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than CNU ($17,105 vs. $23,287)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 13.5% lower than costs at Christopher Newport University ($10,567 vs. $11,990)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Christopher Newport University (96% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 21.3% larger than aid received Christopher Newport University ($9,733 vs. $8,022)
CNU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CNU or RU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RU or CNU .
- Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at RU (3.31)
- RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than CNU (85.4%)
CNU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CNU or RU? 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 RU and CNU.
- The graduation rate at CNU is higher than Radford University (63% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Radford University earn on average $300 more per year than CNU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $47,100)
- Radford University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CNU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,000)
- RU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than CNU graduates. ($237 vs. $258)
- More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/