Penn State Brandywine vs. CNU

Penn State Brandywine and Christopher Newport University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Penn State Brandywine
Christopher Newport University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: CNU (86% admitted vs 98.1%). Typical SAT 1180 vs 1200.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $22,710 at Penn State Brandywine vs $23,148 at CNU. CNU in-state tuition is about $1,620 more per year.
  • Graduation: Penn State Brandywine 37% vs CNU 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Penn State Brandywine $55,300 vs CNU $47,100 (median).
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Key differences

Penn State Brandywine Christopher Newport University
Acceptance rate
CNU more selective
Penn State Brandywine98.1%
CNU86%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State Brandywine higher
Penn State Brandywine1080-1310
CNU1060-1290
Average net price
About even
Penn State Brandywine$22,710
CNU$23,148
In-state tuition
Penn State Brandywine $1,620 less
Penn State Brandywine$15,208
CNU$16,828
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Brandywine $5,786 less
Penn State Brandywine$25,392
CNU$31,178
Graduation rate
CNU +26 pts
Penn State Brandywine37%
CNU63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn State Brandywine +$8,200
Penn State Brandywine$55,300
CNU$47,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Penn State Brandywine 2,431
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • Penn State Brandywine 2,385
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance rate
  • Penn State Brandywine 98.1%
  • CNU 86%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Penn State Brandywine 16.8%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State Brandywine 1200
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • CNU 27
  • Average high school GPA
  • Penn State Brandywine -
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical high school grades
  • Penn State Brandywine -
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Penn State Brandywine Challenging
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • CNU
  • SAT range
  • Penn State Brandywine 1080-1310
  • CNU 1060-1290
  • ACT range
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • CNU 25-30
  • Submit test scores
  • Penn State Brandywine Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Penn State Brandywine $15,208
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Penn State Brandywine $25,392
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & board
  • Penn State Brandywine $14,474
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average net price
  • Penn State Brandywine $22,710
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average grant aid
  • Penn State Brandywine $9,113
  • CNU $10,494
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Penn State Brandywine 73%
  • CNU 64%
  • Graduation rate
  • Penn State Brandywine 37%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Penn State Brandywine $55,300
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Penn State Brandywine 69%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Penn State Brandywine $26,818
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Penn State Brandywine $277
  • CNU $258
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Penn State Brandywine 15:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular majors
  • Penn State Brandywine
    • Business (28%)
    • Work and Family Studies (28%)
    • Communication (23%)
    • Ethnic Studies (6%)
    • Education (5%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
  • Location
  • Penn State Brandywine Media, PA
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Brandywine Large Suburban
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State Brandywine 1,236
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • Penn State Brandywine Public 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Penn State Brandywine #821
  • CNU #378

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Christopher Newport University is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,236 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Brandywine is located in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Brandywine 15:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 13.9% lower than at Penn State Brandywine ($12,460 vs. $14,474).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.8% higher at CNU than at Penn State Brandywine (about $5,786 more per year; $31,178 vs. $25,392).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Brandywine than at Christopher Newport University (73% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Christopher Newport University students is 15.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($10,494 vs. $9,113).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Penn State Brandywine and CNU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine vs. 18% at CNU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Brandywine students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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