ECU vs. CNU

Deciding between East Carolina University 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.

East Carolina University
Christopher Newport University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECU Greenville, NC
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • ECU Small City
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • ECU 26,940
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • ECU Public 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECU #569
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECU -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • ECU Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECU
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECU $7,361
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECU $23,638
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • ECU $11,541
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • ECU $13,755
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECU $9,776
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECU 55%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECU 26,369
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • ECU 23,524
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECU 89.2%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • ECU 17.1%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECU 1160
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECU 23
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECU 3.33
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECU B+
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECU Moderate
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECU
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • ECU 21/26
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • ECU 1070/1240
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECU Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECU
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECU 17:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECU
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECU 59%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECU $43,900
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECU 63%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECU $24,788
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECU $256
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECU 39%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • ECU 61%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECU Medium
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • ECU No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • ECU 69%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • ECU 3%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • ECU 16%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECU 6%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • ECU 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECU 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECU 3%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • ECU 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECU 2%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECU 82%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECU 17%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than CNU based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 4,454 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

ECU vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU 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 East Carolina University than CNU ($13,755 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 7.4% lower than at Christopher Newport University ($11,541 vs. $12,460).
  • Christopher Newport University is 128.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $9,467 more per year; $16,828.00 vs. $7,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at CNU than at East Carolina University (about $7,540 more per year; $31,178.00 vs. $23,638.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Christopher Newport University than at East Carolina University (64% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Christopher Newport University students is 7.3% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($10,494 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. CNU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Christopher Newport University (1180) is 20 points higher than at ECU (1160).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 23 at ECU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: East Carolina University 21/26; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman CNU students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at ECU (3.33).
  • ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than CNU (86%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 18% at CNU.

ECU vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and CNU? 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 East Carolina University's (59%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $212 lower median loan debt than CNU graduates ($24,788 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNU graduates ($256 vs. $258).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 63%)

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.