Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA · Public · Midsize city · CNU
Public institution in Newport News, VA · 4,402 undergraduates · 88% acceptance rate · $60,509 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 14%Graduation rate (4-year)
- Top 23%Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- Top 23%Median ACT
- Top 25%Undergraduates
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $22,1971,292nd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $16,3511,008th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $30,9881,292nd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $32,2421,009th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $25,0001,246th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $60,509525th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $51,931453rd highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 75.1%292nd highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 82.8%545th highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 88.0%1,173rd most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1207385th highest of 1,024 reporting
- Median ACT
- 27222nd highest of 954 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 4,402542nd largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 13.0:1993rd smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 14.6%1,950th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 127 mi (DCA)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- EDNov 15
- EADec 1
- RDFeb 1
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- $65
- Personal essay
- Required
- Writing supplement
- No
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 22 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer EngineeringEngineering | bachelors | $68,666 | $64,493 |
| Computer Science | bachelors | $60,452 | $59,901 |
| Information Science/StudiesComputer Science | bachelors | $59,124 | $56,641 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $46,422 | $44,276 |
| ChemistryPhysical Sciences | bachelors | $38,829 | $29,685 |
| EconomicsSocial Sciences | bachelors | $38,289 | $41,007 |
| SociologySocial Sciences | bachelors | $38,289 | $33,687 |
| History | bachelors | $37,208 | $30,984 |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | $36,398 | $36,668 |
| Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences | bachelors | $35,594 | $33,281 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesForeign Languages | bachelors | $34,704 | $31,670 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | $30,119 | $26,739 |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1961source
- Athletic nickname: "Captains"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
- School colors: Royal Blue and Greysource
- Mascot: Captain Chrissource
- Motto: ""Students Come First""source
- Campus size: about 260 acressource
- Formerly known as "Christopher Newport College" (1960–1992)source
- Athletic conference: C2Csource
- Fight song: ""Fight Song""source
- Notable alum: Randall Munroesource
Athletics — 14 sports
NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III
Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0 · Coed $0)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Sailing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field (Indoor)
- Track and Field (Outdoor)
- Volleyball
- Basketball: 2023
- Soccer: 2021
- Softball: 2022
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.
Key links
- Official websitecnu.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 231712)
- Compare colleges in VARe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in VirginiaEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: Christopher Newport University vs Regent UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 14 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.