CofC vs. CNU

Deciding between College of Charleston and Christopher Newport 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.

College of Charleston
Christopher Newport University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CofC Charleston, SC
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • CofC Midsize City
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CofC 11,926
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • CofC Public 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CofC #384
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CofC -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • CofC Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CofC
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CofC $12,978
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CofC $38,296
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • CofC $14,332
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • CofC $21,004
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CofC $8,983
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CofC 95%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CofC 31,680
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • CofC 19,016
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CofC 60%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • CofC 11.9%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CofC 1230
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • CofC 27
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • CofC 3.94
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CofC A
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CofC Difficult
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • CofC Low
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • CofC 25/30
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • CofC 1140/1310
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CofC Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CofC Jan 15, 2027
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CofC 16:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CofC
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CofC 63%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CofC $46,200
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CofC 60%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CofC $21,500
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CofC $222
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CofC 32%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • CofC 68%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CofC Low
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • CofC No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • CofC 80%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • CofC 2%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • CofC 7%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • CofC 5%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • CofC 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CofC 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CofC 4%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • CofC 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CofC 1%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CofC 43%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CofC 56%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Charleston in Charleston, SC with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Charleston is larger than CNU based on total student enrollment (11,926 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of Charleston is located in Charleston, SC (Midsize City setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • College of Charleston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Charleston 16:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

CofC vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CofC or CNU? 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 College of Charleston than CNU ($21,004 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 13.1% lower than at College of Charleston ($12,460 vs. $14,332).
  • Christopher Newport University is 29.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CofC (about $3,850 more per year; $16,828.00 vs. $12,978.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.8% higher at CofC than at Christopher Newport University (about $7,118 more per year; $38,296.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Charleston than at Christopher Newport University (95% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Christopher Newport University students is 16.8% larger than aid received by College of Charleston students ($10,494 vs. $8,983).

CofC vs. CNU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Charleston (1230) is 50 points higher than at CNU (1180).
  • Incoming CofC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at CNU (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Charleston 1140/1310; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Charleston 25/30; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CofC - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CofC Jan 15, 2027; CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at CNU (3.79).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than CofC (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.9% at CofC vs. 18% at CNU.

CofC vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CofC and CNU? 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).

  • The graduation rate at CofC is the same as at Christopher Newport University (63% vs. 63%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $900 more per year than CofC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Charleston graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than CNU graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, CofC graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNU graduates ($222 vs. $258).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CofC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 60%)

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.