St. Mary's vs. CNU

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD 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 St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

St. Mary's vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland than CNU ($21,071 vs. $23,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 22.5% lower than at St. Mary's College of Maryland ($12,460 vs. $16,079).
• Christopher Newport University is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Mary's (about $1,530 more per year; $16,828.00 vs. $15,298.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at St. Mary's than at Christopher Newport University (about $196 more per year; $31,374.00 vs. $31,178.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland than at Christopher Newport University (98% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students is 8.6% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($11,398 vs. $10,494).

St. Mary's vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. Mary's College of Maryland (1240) is 60 points higher than at CNU (1180).
• Incoming St. Mary's students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at CNU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027; CNU Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at St. Mary's (3.45).
• CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 18% at CNU.

St. Mary's vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's 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).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Christopher Newport University's (63%).
• Graduates from St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than CNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,500 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $4,630 lower median loan debt than CNU graduates ($20,370 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNU graduates ($210 vs. $258).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CNU students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.