The University of Montana vs. CNU

Should I go to The University of Montana or Christopher Newport University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if The University of Montana or CNU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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The University of Montana vs. Christopher Newport University comparison
The University of Montana Christopher Newport University College 3 College 4
The University of Montana Christopher Newport University
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Overview

The University of Montana CNU
Location Missoula, MT Newport News, VA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 9,955 4,559
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #724 #390
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umt.edu cnu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

The University of Montana CNU
Tuition (In State) $5,515 $9,375
Tuition (Out of State) $27,168 $22,613
Room & Board $11,608 $11,990
Avg Net Price $16,361 $23,287
Avg Grant Aid $5,645 $8,022
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 66%

Admission

The University of Montana CNU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,943 7,428
Admitted 8,530 6,340
Acceptance Rate 95.4% 85.4%
Enrolled % 19% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.79
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/26 22/29
SAT Range 1070/1280 1100/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 18, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

The University of Montana CNU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)

Outcomes

The University of Montana CNU
Graduation Rate 47% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,000 $47,100
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,183 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $239 $258

Diversity

The University of Montana CNU
% Men 40% 46%
% Women 60% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 74%
% Black 1% 8%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 3% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 5%

Students

The University of Montana CNU
% In-State 55% 91%
% Out-of-State 44% 6%

Campus

The University of Montana CNU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Montana is larger than than CNU based on total student enrollment (9,955 students vs. 4,559 students)

The University of Montana vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of Montana or CNU?

  • Christopher Newport University is 70% more expensive to attend than The University of Montana for in-state tuition ($9,375.00 vs. $5,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.1% higher at The University of Montana than Christopher Newport University ($27,168.00 vs. $22,613.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Montana than CNU ($16,361 vs. $23,287)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Montana are 3.3% lower than costs at Christopher Newport University ($11,608 vs. $11,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Montana than Christopher Newport University (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Christopher Newport University students is 42.1% larger than aid received The University of Montana ($8,022 vs. $5,645)

The University of Montana vs. CNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The University of Montana or CNU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CNU or The University of Montana .

  • The average SAT score at Christopher Newport University (1155) is 65 points higher than at The University of Montana (1090)
  • Incoming CNU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at The University of Montana (24)
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at The University of Montana (3.36)
  • The University of Montana has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than CNU (85.4%)

The University of Montana vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, The University of Montana or CNU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CNU and The University of Montana.

  • The graduation rate at CNU is higher than The University of Montana (63% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn on average $6,100 more per year than The University of Montana graduates after ten years. ($47,100 vs. $41,000)
  • The University of Montana students graduate with a $1,817 lower median federal student loan debt than CNU graduates. ($23,183 vs. $25,000)
  • The University of Montana graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than CNU graduates. ($239 vs. $258)
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Montana students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/