CNU vs. VSU

Deciding between Christopher Newport University and Virginia State University? 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 State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • CNU Midsize City
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CNU 4,454
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CNU #378
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CNU -
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • CNU Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CNU
  • VSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CNU $16,828
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CNU $31,178
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • CNU $12,460
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • CNU $23,148
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CNU $10,494
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CNU 64%
  • VSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CNU 7,341
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • CNU 6,316
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CNU 86%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • CNU 18%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CNU 1180
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • CNU 27
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • CNU 3.79
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CNU A-
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • CNU Challenging
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CNU
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • CNU 25/30
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CNU Test optional
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027
  • VSU May 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CNU 47%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • CNU 53%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CNU Low
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • CNU No
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • CNU 74%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • CNU 3%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • CNU 8%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • CNU 5%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • CNU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CNU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CNU 5%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • CNU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CNU 5%
  • VSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CNU 92%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CNU 5%
  • VSU 31%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia State University is larger than CNU based on total student enrollment (5,605 students vs. 4,454 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Christopher Newport University is located in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Christopher Newport University 13:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

CNU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNU or VSU? 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 State University than CNU ($17,840 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 6.7% lower than at Virginia State University ($12,460 vs. $13,355).
  • Christopher Newport University is 67.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $6,785 more per year; $16,828.00 vs. $10,043.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.7% higher at CNU than at Virginia State University (about $8,528 more per year; $31,178.00 vs. $22,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia State University than at Christopher Newport University (92% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 18.6% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($12,447 vs. $10,494).

CNU vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CNU or VSU? 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 VSU and CNU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Christopher Newport University (1180) is 220 points higher than at VSU (960).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 10 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 17 at VSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Christopher Newport University 1060/1290; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Christopher Newport University 25/30; Virginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CNU - Test optional; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027; VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled 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 (88.6%) than CNU (86%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at CNU vs. 14.3% at VSU.

CNU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CNU and VSU? 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.

  • Christopher Newport University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Virginia State University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $29,500).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.