Mercy vs. CNU

Deciding between Mercy 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.

Mercy University
Christopher Newport University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mercy Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • Mercy Large Suburban
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mercy 8,991
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • Mercy Private 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mercy #866
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mercy -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • Mercy Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mercy
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mercy $22,880
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mercy $22,880
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • Mercy $15,250
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • Mercy $15,200
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mercy $17,664
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mercy 99%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mercy 8,642
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • Mercy 7,418
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mercy 85.8%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • Mercy 14.3%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mercy 1130
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mercy 23
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mercy 3.19
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mercy B+
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mercy Moderate
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mercy
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • Mercy 21/25
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Mercy 1020/1230
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mercy Test-free
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mercy
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mercy 16:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mercy
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mercy 31%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mercy $42,200
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mercy 40%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mercy $23,699
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mercy $245
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mercy 30%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • Mercy 70%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mercy Very High
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • Mercy No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • Mercy 27%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • Mercy 4%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • Mercy 23%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mercy 35%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Mercy 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mercy 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mercy 2%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • Mercy 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mercy 7%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mercy 91%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mercy 6%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercy University is larger than CNU based on total student enrollment (8,991 students vs. 4,454 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mercy University is located in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy University 16:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

Mercy vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy 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 Mercy University than CNU ($15,200 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 18.3% lower than at Mercy University ($12,460 vs. $15,250).
  • Mercy University is 36% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $6,052 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.3% higher at CNU than at Mercy University (about $8,298 more per year; $31,178.00 vs. $22,880.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy University than at Christopher Newport University (99% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 68.3% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($17,664 vs. $10,494).

Mercy vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercy 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 Mercy.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Christopher Newport University (1180) is 50 points higher than at Mercy (1130).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 23 at Mercy).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Mercy University 1020/1230; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Mercy University 21/25; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy - Test-free; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman CNU students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Mercy (3.19).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Mercy (85.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at Mercy vs. 18% at CNU.

Mercy vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy 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 Mercy University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Mercy graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy University graduates have a $1,301 lower median loan debt than CNU graduates ($23,699 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mercy graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNU graduates ($245 vs. $258).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 40%)

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.