Jefferson vs. CNU

Should I go to Thomas Jefferson University or Christopher Newport University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Jefferson 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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Thomas Jefferson University vs. Christopher Newport University comparison
Thomas Jefferson University Christopher Newport University College 3 College 4
Christopher Newport University
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Overview

Jefferson CNU
Location Philadelphia, PA Newport News, VA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 8,286 4,559
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #390
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jefferson.edu cnu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jefferson CNU
Tuition (In State) $43,100 $9,375
Tuition (Out of State) $43,100 $22,613
Room & Board $14,715 $11,990
Avg Net Price $28,110 $23,287
Avg Grant Aid $32,486 $8,022
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 66%

Admission

Jefferson CNU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,723 7,428
Admitted 5,085 6,340
Acceptance Rate 88.9% 85.4%
Enrolled % 14.9% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.79
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 27/31 22/29
SAT Range 1130/1350 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 Jul 31, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Jefferson CNU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)

Outcomes

Jefferson CNU
Graduation Rate - 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $122,900 $47,100
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $129 $258

Diversity

Jefferson CNU
% Men 27% 46%
% Women 73% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 74%
% Black 7% 8%
% Hispanic 1% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 5%

Students

Jefferson CNU
% In-State 63% 91%
% Out-of-State 35% 6%

Campus

Jefferson CNU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Thomas Jefferson University is larger than than CNU based on total student enrollment (8,286 students vs. 4,559 students)

Jefferson vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jefferson or CNU?

  • Thomas Jefferson University is 359.7% more expensive to attend than CNU for in-state tuition ($43,100.00 vs. $9,375.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 90.6% higher at Jefferson than Christopher Newport University ($43,100.00 vs. $22,613.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Christopher Newport University than Jefferson ($23,287 vs. $28,110)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 22.7% lower than costs at Thomas Jefferson University ($11,990 vs. $14,715)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than Christopher Newport University (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas Jefferson University students is 305% larger than aid received Christopher Newport University ($32,486 vs. $8,022)

Jefferson vs. CNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Jefferson (3.73)
  • Jefferson has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than CNU (85.4%)

Jefferson vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jefferson 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 Jefferson.

  • Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn on average $75,800 more per year than CNU graduates after ten years. ($122,900 vs. $47,100)
  • Thomas Jefferson University students graduate with a $12,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CNU graduates. ($12,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Jefferson graduates are paying $129 less per month on federal student loans than CNU graduates. ($129 vs. $258)
  • More Jefferson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CNU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 78%)

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