CNU vs. WVSU

Should I go to Christopher Newport University or West Virginia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CNU or WVSU 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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Christopher Newport University vs. West Virginia State University comparison
Christopher Newport University West Virginia State University College 3 College 4
Christopher Newport University West Virginia State University
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Overview

CNU WVSU
Location Newport News, VA Institute, WV
Setting Midsize City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 4,503 3,458
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #418 #1003
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cnu.edu wvstateu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CNU WVSU
Tuition (In State) $10,001 $8,524
Tuition (Out of State) $24,238 $13,948
Room & Board $12,360 $12,936
Avg Net Price $22,864 $10,878
Avg Grant Aid $9,141 $8,657
% Receiving Grant Aid 65% 83%

Admission

CNU WVSU
Applied 7,062 4,465
Admitted 6,212 4,303
Acceptance Rate 88% 96.4%
Enrolled % 18.7% 7.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.24
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Challenging Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 16/22
SAT Range 1100/1300 830/1073
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

CNU WVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

CNU WVSU
Graduation Rate 63% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,100 $32,700
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 35%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $258 $240

Diversity

CNU WVSU
% Men 1% 2%
% Women 1% 2%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No Yes
% White 74% 65%
% Black 8% 14%
% Hispanic 5% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 10%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 9%

Students

CNU WVSU
% In-State 93% 81%
% Out-of-State 6% 17%

Campus

CNU WVSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Christopher Newport University is larger than than WVSU based on total student enrollment (4,503 students vs. 3,458 students)

CNU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNU or WVSU?

  • Christopher Newport University is 17.3% more expensive to attend than WVSU for in-state tuition ($10,001.00 vs. $8,524.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 73.8% higher at CNU than West Virginia State University ($24,238.00 vs. $13,948.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia State University than CNU ($10,878 vs. $22,864)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 4.7% lower than costs at West Virginia State University ($12,360 vs. $12,936)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at West Virginia State University than Christopher Newport University (83% vs. 65%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Christopher Newport University students is 5.6% larger than aid received West Virginia State University ($9,141 vs. $8,657)

CNU vs. WVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Christopher Newport University (1155) is 228 points higher than at WVSU (927)
  • Incoming CNU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WVSU (20)
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at WVSU (3.24)
  • WVSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than CNU (88%)

CNU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CNU or WVSU? 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 WVSU and CNU.

  • The graduation rate at CNU is higher than West Virginia State University (63% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Christopher Newport University earn on average $14,400 more per year than WVSU graduates after ten years. ($47,100 vs. $32,700)
  • West Virginia State University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than CNU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
  • WVSU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than CNU graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVSU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 35%)

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