You are comparing the maximum of four schools. Remove a college to compare additional schools.
| Christopher Newport University | James Madison University | Seton Hall University | University of Miami | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | |
Overview |
CNU | JMU | Seton Hall University | Miami |
| Location | Newport News, VA | Harrisonburg, VA | South Orange, NJ | Coral Gables, FL |
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | Large Suburban | Large Suburban |
| Enrollment | 4,503 | 22,758 | 9,494 | 19,593 |
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year |
| National Ranking | #418 | #259 | #243 | #51 |
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | Roman Catholic | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | Non-profit | Non-profit |
| Website | cnu.edu | jmu.edu | shu.edu | miami.edu |
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CNU | JMU | Seton Hall University | Miami |
| Tuition (In State) | $10,001 | $7,914 | $48,670 | $58,104 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,238 | $25,128 | $48,670 | $58,104 |
| Room & Board | $12,360 | $12,584 | $17,350 | $21,580 |
| Avg Net Price | $22,864 | $26,317 | $31,642 | $41,028 |
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,141 | $4,456 | $33,582 | $36,720 |
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 81% | 100% | 77% |
Admission |
CNU | JMU | Seton Hall University | Miami |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 7,062 | 35,750 | 23,748 | 48,286 |
| Admitted | 6,212 | 27,258 | 18,738 | 8,940 |
| Acceptance Rate | 88% | 76.2% | 78.9% | 37.6% |
| Enrolled % | 18.7% | 18.1% | 8.4% | 12.4% |
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.57 | 3.64 | 3.7 |
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | B+ | A- |
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | Very High | Exceptional |
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 25/29 | 27/31 | 30/33 |
| SAT Range | 1100/1300 | 1170/1320 | 1220/1400 | 1330/1470 |
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | 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 | Jan 15, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CNU | JMU | Seton Hall University | Miami |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | 14:1 | 11:1 |
| Popular Majors |
|
|
|
|
Outcomes |
CNU | JMU | Seton Hall University | Miami |
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 81% | 66% | 78% |
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,100 | $60,300 | $62,700 | $70,200 |
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 83% | 71% | 75% |
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,899 | $25,000 | $19,846 |
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $216 | $258 | $205 |
Diversity |
CNU | JMU | Seton Hall University | Miami |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 2% | 14% | 15% |
| % Women | 1% | 5% | 22% | 19% |
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | High | Very High |
| HBCU | No | No | No | No |
| % White | 74% | 76% | 51% | 42% |
| % Black | 8% | 4% | 10% | 8% |
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | 19% | 22% |
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| % International | 0% | 2% | 3% | 14% |
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 3% | 5% | 5% |
Students |
CNU | JMU | Seton Hall University | Miami |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 73% | 71% | 26% |
| % Out-of-State | 6% | 26% | 27% | 66% |
Campus |
CNU | JMU | Seton Hall University | Miami |
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | No | No |
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Daycare Facility | No | No | No | Yes |
| Learn More | Details | Details | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than CNU based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 4,503 students)
CNU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CNU or JMU?
- Christopher Newport University is 26.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($10,001.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.7% higher at JMU than Christopher Newport University ($25,128.00 vs. $24,238.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Christopher Newport University than JMU ($22,864 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 1.8% lower than costs at James Madison University ($12,360 vs. $12,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than Christopher Newport University (81% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Christopher Newport University students is 105.1% larger than aid received James Madison University ($9,141 vs. $4,456)
CNU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CNU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or CNU .
- The average SAT score at Christopher Newport University (1155) is 21 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming CNU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at JMU (3.57)
- CNU has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than JMU (76.2%)
CNU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CNU or JMU? 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 JMU and CNU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Christopher Newport University (81% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $13,200 more per year than CNU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $47,100)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $4,101 lower median federal student loan debt than CNU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $25,000)
- JMU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than CNU graduates. ($216 vs. $258)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CNU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/