Christopher Newport University
#4 Best Communications Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 73% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $60,509 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $23,015 D+
- 34% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 86% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.8 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Communications Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $15.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,361,293.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Earnings 48% above the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $15.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Christopher Newport University Matters
Christopher Newport University is a public university in Newport News, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 4,365
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose Christopher Newport University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 86% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1060–1290. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,015 a year after grants and scholarships — 34% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $60,509 ten years after enrolling — 48% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 71% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.73 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 4,365 students and an acceptance rate of 86%, Christopher Newport University is a welcoming choice for those looking to create a strong academic foundation. It’s particularly appealing to students interested in psychology, biology, business, or communications. These programs stand out for their supportive faculty and hands-on learning opportunities, which can really enhance the college experience.
Life after graduation looks promising for CNU alumni, with a median earning of $60,509 a decade after completing their studies. This figure indicates that graduates are generally able to secure good jobs that help them move up in their careers. While we don’t have specific mobility rates, the overall earning potential suggests that many graduates find themselves in a better financial position than when they started.
When it comes to the cost of attending, the net price after aid comes to $23,015, which is relatively manageable compared to many other institutions. With a median debt of $25,000, students tend to leave CNU with a reasonable financial load. Those who thrive here are often the ones who take advantage of the university’s strong academic programs and supportive environment, focusing on their future while making meaningful connections along the way.
Rankings
- #4 Best Communications Colleges in Virginia
- #6 Best Biology Colleges in Virginia
- #7 Best MBA Programs in Virginia
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Virginia
- #11 Best Master's Programs in Virginia
- #12 Best Computer Science Colleges in Virginia
- #12 Best Data Science Colleges in Virginia
- #13 Best Business Colleges in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Christopher Newport University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Christopher Newport University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Newport News, Virginia, Christopher Newport University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,180. The graduation rate is roughly 73%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 81%
- SAT Average
- 1180
- ACT Midpoint
- 27
- SAT Range
- 1060–1290
- ACT Range
- 25–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 67%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,989
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.52
- First-Gen Students
- 18%
- Applicants
- 7,428
- Admitted
- 6,340
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Christopher Newport University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Christopher Newport University is $31,178, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,015. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,461 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,828
- Out-of-State
- $31,178
- Avg Net Price
- $23,015
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 16%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 37%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,461
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,752
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,163
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,584
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Christopher Newport University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Christopher Newport University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $60,509, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,931
- 8 Years
- $57,119
- 10 Years
- $60,509
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 72%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (862)
- 70%
- 100% (862)
- 70%
- 100% (862)
- 70%
- 100% (862)
- 70%
How Christopher Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Christopher Newport University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Christopher Newport University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,015/year ($92,060 total). Graduates earn $60,509 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,453,353 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,361,293 (15.8× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 73% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $92,060
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,453,353
- Net Return
- $1,361,293
- ROI Multiple
- 15.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,015
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 73%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Christopher Newport University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Christopher Newport University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.08%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.08%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 21.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $125,675
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,794,933
- Investment Income
- $43,629
Top Programs
The fields Christopher Newport University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Biology & Biomedical 15% $34,098 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $52,608 early-career
- Psychology 14% $36,992 early-career
- Social Sciences 13% $48,724 early-career
- Communications 10% $43,569 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 9% $71,174 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $26,775 early-career
- Engineering 3% $76,630 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Christopher Newport University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Christopher Newport University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Newport News, Virginia, Christopher Newport University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,180. The graduation rate is roughly 73%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Christopher Newport University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Christopher Newport University is $31,178, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,015. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,461 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Christopher Newport University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $60,509, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Christopher Newport University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Christopher Newport University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.08%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Christopher Newport University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Christopher Newport University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Christopher Newport University.
- University of Mary WashingtonFredericksburg, VA · Close peer67% grad $60,613 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Aurora UniversityAurora, IL · Close peer59% grad $58,709 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL · Close peer74% grad $66,852 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, MD · Close peer68% grad $61,515 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Maryville University of Saint LouisSaint Louis, MO · Close peer69% grad $62,105 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Xavier UniversityCincinnati, OH · Close peer70% grad $64,873 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Christopher Newport University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Christopher Newport University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note