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JMU Mason Old Dominion Mary Washington College Virginia Tech VCU NSU William & Mary Longwood University UVA Morgan State Bowie State University| Christopher Newport University | Virginia State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CNU | VSU | ||
| Location | Newport News, VA | Petersburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 4,503 | 5,190 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #418 | #930 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cnu.edu | vsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CNU | VSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,001 | $5,540 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,238 | $17,038 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,360 | $12,966 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,864 | $16,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,141 | $12,300 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 92% |
Admission |
CNU | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,062 | 10,577 | ||
| Admitted | 6,212 | 9,424 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88% | 89.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 15.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 2.85 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 14/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1300 | 800/1050 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CNU | VSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 | ||
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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 | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 4% | ||
| 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 | 93% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 6% | 33% | ||
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 (5,190 students vs. 4,503 students)
CNU vs. VSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CNU or VSU?
- Christopher Newport University is 80.5% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($10,001.00 vs. $5,540.00)
- Out of state tuition is 42.3% higher at CNU than Virginia State University ($24,238.00 vs. $17,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia State University than CNU ($16,184 vs. $22,864)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 4.9% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($12,360 vs. $12,966)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia State University than Christopher Newport University (92% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 34.6% larger than aid received Christopher Newport University ($12,300 vs. $9,141)
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 (89.1%) than CNU (88%)
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/