CNU vs. VSU

Should I go to Christopher Newport University or Virginia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CNU or VSU 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. Virginia State University comparison
Christopher Newport University Virginia State University College 3 College 4
Christopher Newport University Virginia State University
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Overview

CNU VSU
Location Newport News, VA Petersburg, VA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,559 4,648
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #390 #980
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cnu.edu vsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CNU VSU
Tuition (In State) $9,375 $5,540
Tuition (Out of State) $22,613 $16,542
Room & Board $11,990 $11,544
Avg Net Price $23,287 $15,773
Avg Grant Aid $8,022 $11,498
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 92%

Admission

CNU VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,428 8,230
Admitted 6,340 7,384
Acceptance Rate 85.4% 89.7%
Enrolled % 18.3% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 2.85
Typical High School Grades A- B-
Admissions Standards Challenging Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/29 14/17
SAT Range 1100/1290 830/1030
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

CNU VSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

CNU VSU
Graduation Rate 63% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,100 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 28%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $29,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $305

Diversity

CNU VSU
% Men 46% 40%
% Women 54% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 74% 3%
% Black 8% 87%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 0%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 7%

Students

CNU VSU
% In-State 91% 72%
% Out-of-State 6% 27%

Campus

CNU VSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia State University is larger than than CNU based on total student enrollment (4,648 students vs. 4,559 students)

CNU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNU or VSU?

  • Christopher Newport University is 69.2% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($9,375.00 vs. $5,540.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.7% higher at CNU than Virginia State University ($22,613.00 vs. $16,542.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia State University than CNU ($15,773 vs. $23,287)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 3.9% lower than costs at Christopher Newport University ($11,544 vs. $11,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia State University than Christopher Newport University (92% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 43.3% larger than aid received Christopher Newport University ($11,498 vs. $8,022)

CNU vs. VSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Christopher Newport University (1155) is 298 points higher than at VSU (857)
  • Incoming CNU students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at VSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.94 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at VSU (2.85)
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than CNU (85.4%)

CNU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CNU or VSU? 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 VSU and CNU.

  • The graduation rate at CNU is higher than Virginia State University (63% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn on average $10,400 more per year than VSU graduates after ten years. ($47,100 vs. $36,700)
  • Christopher Newport University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $29,500)
  • CNU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($258 vs. $305)
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 28%)

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