CNU vs. VMI

Deciding between Christopher Newport University and Virginia Military Institute? 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
Virginia Military Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • CNU Midsize City
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • CNU 4,454
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CNU #378
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CNU -
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • CNU Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CNU
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CNU $16,828
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CNU $31,178
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • CNU $12,460
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • CNU $23,148
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CNU $10,494
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CNU 64%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CNU 7,341
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • CNU 6,316
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CNU 86%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • CNU 18%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CNU 1180
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • CNU 27
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • CNU 3.79
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CNU A-
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CNU Challenging
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • CNU
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • CNU 25/30
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CNU Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CNU 13:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CNU 63%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CNU $47,100
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CNU 78%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CNU $25,000
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CNU $258
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CNU 47%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • CNU 53%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CNU Low
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • CNU No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • CNU 74%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • CNU 3%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • CNU 8%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • CNU 5%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • CNU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CNU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CNU 5%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • CNU 0%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CNU 5%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CNU 92%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CNU 5%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Christopher Newport University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,527 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CNU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNU or VMI? 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 Virginia Military Institute than CNU ($18,825 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 9.2% lower than at Christopher Newport University ($11,310 vs. $12,460).
  • Virginia Military Institute is 25.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $4,218 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.8% higher at VMI than at Christopher Newport University (about $21,460 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Military Institute than at Christopher Newport University (81% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 127% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($23,821 vs. $10,494).

CNU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CNU or VMI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VMI and CNU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Christopher Newport University (1180) is 20 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming CNU students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 27) as students at VMI (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Christopher Newport University 1060/1290; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Christopher Newport University 25/30; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CNU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman CNU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at VMI (3.65).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than VMI (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at CNU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

CNU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CNU and VMI? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Christopher Newport University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than CNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute and CNU graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Virginia Military Institute and CNU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CNU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

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.