CNU vs. VWC

Deciding between Christopher Newport University and Virginia Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • CNU Midsize City
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CNU 4,454
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CNU #378
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CNU -
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • CNU Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CNU
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CNU $16,828
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CNU $31,178
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • CNU $12,460
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • CNU $23,148
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CNU $10,494
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CNU 64%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CNU 7,341
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • CNU 6,316
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CNU 86%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • CNU 18%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CNU 1180
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • CNU 27
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • CNU 3.79
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CNU A-
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CNU Challenging
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • CNU
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • CNU 25/30
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CNU Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CNU 13:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CNU 63%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CNU $47,100
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CNU 78%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CNU $25,000
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CNU $258
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CNU 47%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • CNU 53%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CNU Low
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • CNU No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • CNU 74%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • CNU 3%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • CNU 8%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • CNU 5%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • CNU 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CNU 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CNU 5%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • CNU 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CNU 5%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CNU 92%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CNU 5%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Christopher Newport University is larger than VWC based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Christopher Newport University is located in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Christopher Newport University 13:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

CNU vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNU or VWC? 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 Wesleyan University than CNU ($21,267 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 4.3% lower than at Christopher Newport University ($11,930 vs. $12,460).
  • Virginia Wesleyan University is 122.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $20,672 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.3% higher at VWC than at Christopher Newport University (about $6,322 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at Christopher Newport University (100% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 185.1% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($29,923 vs. $10,494).

CNU vs. VWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CNU or VWC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VWC and CNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 70 points higher than at CNU (1180).
  • Incoming VWC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at CNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Christopher Newport University 1060/1290; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Christopher Newport University 25/30; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CNU - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at VWC (3.39).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than VWC (72.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at CNU vs. 11.9% at VWC.

CNU vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CNU and VWC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Christopher Newport University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Virginia Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 57%)

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.