UMBC vs. CNU

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

UMBC CNU
Location Baltimore, MD Newport News, VA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 13,991 4,559
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #303 #390
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umbc.edu cnu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UMBC CNU
Tuition (In State) $9,056 $9,375
Tuition (Out of State) $25,820 $22,613
Room & Board $13,378 $11,990
Avg Net Price $17,692 $23,287
Avg Grant Aid $8,889 $8,022
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 66%

Admission

UMBC CNU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,534 7,428
Admitted 9,291 6,340
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 85.4%
Enrolled % 23.1% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.79
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 22/29
SAT Range 1210/1390 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 Feb 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

UMBC CNU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)

Outcomes

UMBC CNU
Graduation Rate 57% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $47,100
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,197 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $219 $258

Diversity

UMBC CNU
% Men 53% 46%
% Women 47% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 44% 74%
% Black 17% 8%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

UMBC CNU
% In-State 90% 91%
% Out-of-State 5% 6%

Campus

UMBC 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

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than than CNU based on total student enrollment (13,991 students vs. 4,559 students)

UMBC vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or CNU?

  • Christopher Newport University is 3.5% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($9,375.00 vs. $9,056.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.2% higher at UMBC than Christopher Newport University ($25,820.00 vs. $22,613.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than CNU ($17,692 vs. $23,287)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 11.6% lower than costs at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($11,990 vs. $13,378)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Christopher Newport University (92% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students is 10.8% larger than aid received Christopher Newport University ($8,889 vs. $8,022)

UMBC vs. CNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1209) is 54 points higher than at CNU (1155)
  • Incoming UMBC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at CNU (25)
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at CNU (3.79)
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (85.4%) than UMBC (80.6%)

UMBC vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UMBC 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 UMBC.

  • The graduation rate at CNU is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (63% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn on average $12,400 more per year than CNU graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $47,100)
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County students graduate with a $3,803 lower median federal student loan debt than CNU graduates. ($21,197 vs. $25,000)
  • UMBC graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than CNU graduates. ($219 vs. $258)
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 67%)

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