Salisbury vs. CNU

Deciding between Salisbury 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.

Salisbury University
Christopher Newport University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Salisbury -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • Salisbury Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Salisbury
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Salisbury
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • Salisbury 20/29
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Salisbury 1180/1320
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Salisbury 42%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • Salisbury 58%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Salisbury Medium
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • Salisbury No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • Salisbury 71%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • Salisbury 3%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • Salisbury 13%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Salisbury 4%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Salisbury 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Salisbury 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Salisbury 4%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • Salisbury 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Salisbury 3%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

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

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Salisbury University is larger than CNU based on total student enrollment (7,025 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

Salisbury vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury 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 Salisbury University than CNU ($18,760 vs. $23,148).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 10.4% lower than at Salisbury University ($12,460 vs. $13,900).
  • Christopher Newport University is 51.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $5,744 more per year; $16,828.00 vs. $11,084.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.6% higher at CNU than at Salisbury University (about $9,004 more per year; $31,178.00 vs. $22,174.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at Christopher Newport University (88% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Christopher Newport University students is 15% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($10,494 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury 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 Salisbury.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salisbury University (1250) is 70 points higher than at CNU (1180).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Salisbury (3.73).
  • Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than CNU (86%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 18% at CNU.

Salisbury vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury 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).

  • Salisbury University's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Christopher Newport University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Salisbury University earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than CNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,000 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $4,847 lower median loan debt than CNU graduates ($20,153 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNU graduates ($208 vs. $258).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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.