Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia · Public · 4,365 undergraduates · cnu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
86%
of 7,341 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1060 to 1290
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$39,330Est.Estimate
$54,780 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Christopher Newport University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
86% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$54,780
a year in 2027-28, from a $54,780 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1180
Send your score
About 60% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1070, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- CLT accepted ('We also accept the CLT.')
Source: Frequently Asked Questions - Christopher Newport University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov15Early Decision · November 15, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Dec1Early Action · December 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Feb1Regular Decision · February 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
86%
of applicants were admitted: 6,316 of 7,341 for fall 2024.
Wait list
378 students were offered a spot; 36 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2024)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1060 to 1290
Reading and Writing 550 to 660
Math 510 to 630
ACT composite 25 to 30
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$39,330
a year, in state
$54,780
a year, out of state (tuition $26,800)
- Tuition (in state)$11,350
- Fees$7,410
- Food and housing$13,900
- Books and supplies$1,750
- Transportation and other$4,920
Christopher Newport University published $36,099 in state for 2024-25. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$14,139
- $30,001 to $48,000$14,136
- $48,001 to $75,000$16,385
- $75,001 to $110,000$20,433
- Over $110,000$30,741
Financial aid
70%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$13,326
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
24%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $3,911 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 3/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
30 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,140Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | FNAR 1XX |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | FNAR 1XX |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | ENGL 2XX |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | FNAR 201 |
| Art History | 4 | 6 | FNAR 201/202 |
| Biology | 3 | 3 | BIOL 107 |
| Biology | 4 | 7 | BIOL 107/108/109L |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 3 | MATH 135 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 140 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 140/240 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 103/103L |
| Chemistry | 4 | 7 | CHEM 121/121L, 242* |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | CHIN 101/102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | CHIN 101/102/201/202 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 215 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CPSC 110 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CPSC 150/150L |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CPSC 110 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | FNAR 1XX |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 123 |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENGL 123/1XX |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 1XX |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENGL 1XX |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | BIOL 115/109L |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HIST 1XX |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | FREN 101/102 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | FREN 101/102/201/202 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | GERM 101/102 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | GERM 101/102/201/202 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 210 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | ITAL 101/102 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | ITAL 101/102/201/202 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | ELEC 101/102 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | ELEC 101/102/201/202 |
| Latin | 3 | 6 | LATN 101/102 |
| Latin | 4 | 12 | LATN 101/102/201/202 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 201 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 202 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUSC 211 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 151/151L |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 152/152L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 202/202L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 201/201L |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 3 | MATH 1XX |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 3 | MATH 132 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSYC 201 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 101/102 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | SPAN 101/102/201/202 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 101/102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 12 | SPAN 101/102/201/202 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 125 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 101 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HIST 121 |
| United States History | 5 | 6 | HIST 121/122 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HIST 112 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
75%
Come back for a second year
81%
Typical earnings
$65,183
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Christopher Newport University$88,174
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 18 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Christopher Newport University. The Christopher Newport University logo is a trademark of the college; image by Brendanh9, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.