URI vs. CNU

Deciding between University of Rhode Island and Christopher Newport University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Rhode Island
Christopher Newport University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • URI Large Suburban
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • URI 17,210
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • URI #425
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • URI -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • URI Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • URI
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • URI $16,942
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • URI $37,146
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • URI $15,607
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • URI $24,118
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • URI $12,578
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • URI 96%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • URI 26,987
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • URI 19,475
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • URI 72.2%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • URI 15.4%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • URI 1150
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • URI
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • URI 3.58
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • URI A-
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • URI Average
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • URI Low
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • URI
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • URI 1020/1280
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • URI Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • URI Feb 1, 2027
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • URI 17:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • URI 63%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • URI $56,200
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • URI 69%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • URI $23,438
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • URI $242
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • URI 41%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • URI 59%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • URI Low
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • URI No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • URI 71%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • URI 3%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • URI 5%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • URI 9%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • URI 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • URI 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • URI 3%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • URI 1%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • URI 7%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • URI 42%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • URI 57%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • URI Yes
  • CNU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • URI No
  • CNU No
  • Meal Plan
  • URI Yes
  • CNU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • URI No
  • CNU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • URI Yes
  • CNU No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Rhode Island is larger than CNU based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Rhode Island is located in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Rhode Island 17:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

URI vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, URI or CNU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Christopher Newport University than URI ($23,148 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 20.2% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($12,460 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Rhode Island is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $114 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.1% higher at URI than at Christopher Newport University (about $5,968 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Christopher Newport University (96% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 19.9% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($12,578 vs. $10,494).

URI vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, URI or CNU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CNU and URI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Christopher Newport University (1180) is 30 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rhode Island 1020/1280; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsChristopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: URI - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027; CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CNU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at URI (3.58).
  • CNU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at URI vs. 18% at CNU.

URI vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for URI and CNU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The graduation rate at URI is the same as at Christopher Newport University (63% vs. 63%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than CNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $1,562 lower median loan debt than CNU graduates ($23,438 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CNU graduates ($242 vs. $258).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.