Franciscan vs. CNU

Deciding between Franciscan University of Steubenville 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.

Franciscan University of Steubenville
Christopher Newport University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Franciscan Steubenville, OH
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • Franciscan Small City
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Franciscan 3,976
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • Franciscan Private 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Franciscan #473
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Franciscan Roman Catholic
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • Franciscan Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Franciscan
  • CNU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Franciscan $34,100
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Franciscan $34,100
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • Franciscan $10,000
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • Franciscan $23,086
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Franciscan $21,522
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Franciscan 99%
  • CNU 64%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Franciscan 2,968
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • Franciscan 1,732
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Franciscan 58.4%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • Franciscan 41.7%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Franciscan 1230
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Franciscan 25
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Franciscan 3.78
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Franciscan A-
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Franciscan Difficult
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Franciscan Low
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • Franciscan 22/29
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Franciscan 1110/1350
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Franciscan Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Franciscan
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Franciscan 17:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Franciscan
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (30%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Franciscan 70%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Franciscan $39,800
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Franciscan 78%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Franciscan $22,000
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Franciscan $227
  • CNU $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Franciscan 47%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • Franciscan 53%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Franciscan Very Low
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • Franciscan No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • Franciscan 83%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • Franciscan 2%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • Franciscan 1%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Franciscan 10%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Franciscan 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Franciscan 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Franciscan 2%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • Franciscan 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Franciscan 1%
  • CNU 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Franciscan 19%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Franciscan 80%
  • CNU 5%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Christopher Newport University is larger than Franciscan based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 3,976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Franciscan University of Steubenville is located in Steubenville, OH (Small City setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Franciscan University of Steubenville 17:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

Franciscan vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Franciscan 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 Franciscan University of Steubenville than CNU ($23,086 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franciscan University of Steubenville are 19.7% lower than at Christopher Newport University ($10,000 vs. $12,460).
  • Franciscan University of Steubenville is 102.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $17,272 more per year; $34,100.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Franciscan than at Christopher Newport University (about $2,922 more per year; $34,100.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franciscan University of Steubenville than at Christopher Newport University (99% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franciscan University of Steubenville students is 105.1% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($21,522 vs. $10,494).

Franciscan vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Franciscan 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 Franciscan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franciscan University of Steubenville (1230) is 50 points higher than at CNU (1180).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Franciscan).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franciscan University of Steubenville 1110/1350; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franciscan University of Steubenville 22/29; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Franciscan - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Franciscan (3.78).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Franciscan (58.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 41.7% at Franciscan vs. 18% at CNU.

Franciscan vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Franciscan 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).

  • Franciscan University of Steubenville's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Christopher Newport University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Franciscan graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than CNU graduates ($22,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Franciscan graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNU graduates ($227 vs. $258).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Franciscan students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 78%)

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.