CNU vs. Sweet Briar College

Should I go to Christopher Newport University or Sweet Briar College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CNU or Sweet Briar College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Christopher Newport University vs. Sweet Briar College comparison
Christopher Newport University Sweet Briar College College 3 College 4
Christopher Newport University
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Overview

CNU Sweet Briar College
Location Newport News, VA Sweet Briar, VA
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 4,503 464
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #418
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cnu.edu sbc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CNU Sweet Briar College
Tuition (In State) $10,001 $23,730
Tuition (Out of State) $24,238 $23,730
Room & Board $12,360 $14,720
Avg Net Price $22,864 $25,598
Avg Grant Aid $9,141 $15,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 65% 99%

Admission

CNU Sweet Briar College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,062 1,136
Admitted 6,212 815
Acceptance Rate 88% 71.7%
Enrolled % 18.7% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.54
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 21/27
SAT Range 1100/1300 1100/1310
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, 2026

Academics

CNU Sweet Briar College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

CNU Sweet Briar College
Graduation Rate 63% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,100 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

CNU Sweet Briar College
% Men 1% 0%
% Women 1% 0%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 71%
% Black 8% 9%
% Hispanic 5% 9%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

CNU Sweet Briar College
% In-State 93% 43%
% Out-of-State 6% 49%

Campus

CNU Sweet Briar College
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

  • Christopher Newport University is larger than than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (4,503 students vs. 464 students)

CNU vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNU or Sweet Briar College?

  • Sweet Briar College is 137.3% more expensive to attend than CNU for in-state tuition ($23,730.00 vs. $10,001.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at CNU than Sweet Briar College ($24,238.00 vs. $23,730.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Christopher Newport University than Sweet Briar College ($22,864 vs. $25,598)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 19.1% lower than costs at Sweet Briar College ($12,360 vs. $14,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sweet Briar College than Christopher Newport University (99% vs. 65%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sweet Briar College students is 73.7% larger than aid received Christopher Newport University ($15,880 vs. $9,141)

CNU vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CNU or Sweet Briar College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sweet Briar College or CNU .

  • The average SAT score at Christopher Newport University (1155) is 57 points higher than at Sweet Briar College (1098)
  • Incoming CNU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Sweet Briar College (25)
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Sweet Briar College (3.54)
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Sweet Briar College (71.7%)

CNU vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CNU or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College and CNU.

  • The graduation rate at Sweet Briar College is higher than Christopher Newport University (70% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn on average $5,400 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates after ten years. ($47,100 vs. $41,700)
  • Christopher Newport University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • CNU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Sweet Briar College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sweet Briar College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/