Meredith vs. CNU

Deciding between Meredith College 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.

Meredith College
Christopher Newport University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Meredith Raleigh, NC
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • Meredith Large City
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Meredith 1,465
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • Meredith Private 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Meredith #368
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Meredith -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • Meredith Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Meredith
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Meredith $45,630
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Meredith $45,630
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • Meredith $13,280
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • Meredith $24,323
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Meredith $33,116
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Meredith 100%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Meredith 1,983
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • Meredith 1,471
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Meredith 74.2%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • Meredith 18.5%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Meredith 1220
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Meredith 26
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Meredith 3.52
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Meredith A-
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Meredith Difficult
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Meredith Low
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • Meredith 23/29
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Meredith 1098/1348
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Meredith Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Meredith Feb 15, 2027
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Meredith 10:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Meredith
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (10%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Meredith 59%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Meredith $40,000
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Meredith 65%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Meredith $26,000
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Meredith $268
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Meredith 2%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • Meredith 98%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Meredith Medium
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • Meredith No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • Meredith 71%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • Meredith 3%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • Meredith 10%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Meredith 3%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Meredith 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Meredith 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Meredith 4%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • Meredith 5%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Meredith 2%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Meredith 82%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Meredith 18%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Meredith College in Raleigh, NC 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 Meredith based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,465 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Meredith College is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Meredith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Meredith College 10:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

Meredith vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Meredith 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 Christopher Newport University than Meredith ($23,148 vs. $24,323).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 6.2% lower than at Meredith College ($12,460 vs. $13,280).
  • Meredith College is 171.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $28,802 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.4% higher at Meredith than at Christopher Newport University (about $14,452 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Meredith College than at Christopher Newport University (100% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Meredith College students is 215.6% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($33,116 vs. $10,494).

Meredith vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Meredith 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 Meredith.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Meredith College (1220) is 40 points higher than at CNU (1180).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Meredith).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 1098/1348; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 23/29; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Meredith - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Meredith Feb 15, 2027; CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Meredith (3.52).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Meredith (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Meredith vs. 18% at CNU.

Meredith vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Meredith 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).

  • Christopher Newport University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Meredith College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than Meredith graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,100 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Meredith graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Meredith graduates ($258 vs. $268).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Meredith students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 65%)

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.