Wilkes vs. CNU

Deciding between Wilkes University 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.

Wilkes University
Christopher Newport University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wilkes Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • CNU Newport News, VA
  • Setting
  • Wilkes Small City
  • CNU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wilkes 5,381
  • CNU 4,454
  • Type
  • Wilkes Private 4 Year
  • CNU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wilkes #414
  • CNU #378
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wilkes -
  • CNU -
  • Status
  • Wilkes Non-profit
  • CNU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wilkes
  • CNU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • CNU $16,828
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • CNU $31,178
  • Room & Board
  • Wilkes $16,166
  • CNU $12,460
  • Average Net Price
  • Wilkes $28,511
  • CNU $23,148
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wilkes $28,324
  • CNU $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wilkes 100%
  • CNU 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wilkes 7,660
  • CNU 7,341
  • Admitted
  • Wilkes 6,943
  • CNU 6,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wilkes 90.6%
  • CNU 86%
  • Enrolled
  • Wilkes 9.3%
  • CNU 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wilkes 1140
  • CNU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wilkes 25
  • CNU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wilkes 3.56
  • CNU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wilkes A-
  • CNU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wilkes Challenging
  • CNU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wilkes
  • CNU
  • ACT Range
  • Wilkes 22/29
  • CNU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Wilkes 1020/1250
  • CNU 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wilkes Test optional
  • CNU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wilkes
  • CNU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wilkes 13:1
  • CNU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wilkes
    • Business (18%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • CNU
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wilkes 58%
  • CNU 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wilkes $58,200
  • CNU $47,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wilkes 75%
  • CNU 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wilkes $26,000
  • CNU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wilkes $268
  • CNU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wilkes 32%
  • CNU 47%
  • % Women
  • Wilkes 68%
  • CNU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wilkes Low
  • CNU Low
  • HBCU
  • Wilkes No
  • CNU No
  • % White
  • Wilkes 73%
  • CNU 74%
  • % Asian
  • Wilkes 3%
  • CNU 3%
  • % Black
  • Wilkes 4%
  • CNU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wilkes 6%
  • CNU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Wilkes 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wilkes 0%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wilkes 4%
  • CNU 5%
  • % International
  • Wilkes 9%
  • CNU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wilkes 2%
  • CNU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wilkes 65%
  • CNU 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wilkes 20%
  • CNU 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA with Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wilkes University is larger than CNU based on total student enrollment (5,381 students vs. 4,454 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wilkes University is located in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting); Christopher Newport University is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Christopher Newport University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wilkes University 13:1; Christopher Newport University 13:1.

Wilkes vs. CNU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wilkes 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 Wilkes ($23,148 vs. $28,511).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christopher Newport University are 22.9% lower than at Wilkes University ($12,460 vs. $16,166).
  • Wilkes University is 158.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CNU (about $26,668 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $16,828.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.5% higher at Wilkes than at Christopher Newport University (about $12,318 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $31,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Christopher Newport University (100% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 169.9% larger than aid received by Christopher Newport University students ($28,324 vs. $10,494).

Wilkes vs. CNU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wilkes or CNU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CNU and Wilkes.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Christopher Newport University (1180) is 40 points higher than at Wilkes (1140).
  • Incoming CNU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Wilkes).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Wilkes University 1020/1250; Christopher Newport University 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Wilkes University 22/29; Christopher Newport University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wilkes - Test optional; CNU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CNU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman CNU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Wilkes (3.56).
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than CNU (86%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at Wilkes vs. 18% at CNU.

Wilkes vs. CNU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wilkes and CNU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Christopher Newport University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Wilkes University's (58%).
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than CNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $47,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Christopher Newport University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Wilkes graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, CNU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wilkes graduates ($258 vs. $268).
  • More CNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilkes students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.