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JMU Mason Temple Old Dominion Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Mary Washington College Virginia Tech VCU Millersville University of Pennsylvania Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Penn State William & Mary| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | Christopher Newport University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | CNU | ||
| Location | West Chester, PA | Newport News, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,076 | 4,503 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #532 | #418 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcupa.edu | cnu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | CNU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $10,001 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,290 | $24,238 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,474 | $12,360 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,684 | $22,864 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,503 | $9,141 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 70% | 65% |
Admission |
WCU | CNU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,467 | 7,062 | ||
| Admitted | 13,042 | 6,212 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.2% | 88% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.7% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.43 | 3.79 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 24/28 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1270 | 1100/1300 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
WCU | CNU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | CNU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $47,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $258 |
Diversity |
WCU | CNU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 74% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 5% |
Students |
WCU | CNU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 6% | ||
Campus |
WCU | CNU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than CNU based on total student enrollment (17,076 students vs. 4,503 students)
WCU vs. CNU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or CNU?
- Christopher Newport University is 29.6% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($10,001.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 25.7% higher at CNU than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($24,238.00 vs. $19,290.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than CNU ($21,684 vs. $22,864)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 0.9% lower than costs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($12,360 vs. $12,474)
- More students receive financial grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Christopher Newport University (70% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Christopher Newport University students is 66.1% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($9,141 vs. $5,503)
WCU vs. CNU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or CNU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CNU or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Christopher Newport University (1155) is 83 points higher than at WCU (1072)
- Incoming CNU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (24)
- Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at WCU (3.43)
- CNU has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than WCU (79.2%)
WCU vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU 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 WCU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Christopher Newport University (68% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $1,900 more per year than CNU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $47,100)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CNU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $25,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than CNU graduates. ($242 vs. $258)
- More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/