St. Mary's vs. CNU

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD 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 St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,630 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 22.5% lower than at St. Mary's College of Maryland ($12,460 vs. $16,079).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at St. Mary's than at Christopher Newport University (about $196 more per year; $31,374 vs. $31,178).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland than at Christopher Newport University (98% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students is 8.6% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($11,398 vs. $10,494).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at St. Mary's than at CNU (28 vs. 27, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both St. Mary's and CNU.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027; CNU Feb 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at CNU average a 3.79 high school GPA, 0.34 higher than at St. Mary's (3.45).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 18% at CNU.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $4,630 lower median loan debt than CNU graduates ($20,370 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNU graduates ($210 vs. $258).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CNU students, three years after graduation (82% vs. 78%).

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