Christopher Newport: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Christopher Newport University · Newport News, Virginia · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- 7,341
- Applicants
- 6,316
- Admitted86%
- 1,140
- Enrolled
- 18%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access86% admittedRanked #119 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Business Programs #345 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #163 (tie), Computer Science #502 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Christopher Newport University (see the source), read on 2026-06-14.
Is Christopher Newport a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Christopher Newport against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Christopher Newport is a public university in Newport News, Virginia that admits about 86% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $23,015 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 72% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Christopher Newport is a public institution located in Newport News, Virginia. For the most recent reporting cycle, Christopher Newport admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 86%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1180 and an ACT composite around 27. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,015 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Christopher Newport?
Christopher Newport has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
Compare Christopher Newport with the other schools on your list
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What does Christopher Newport weight in admissions?
Christopher Newport reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
11- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
3- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
2- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Christopher Newport typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 510–630, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–30. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1180 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 25 |
| 50th percentile | 27 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Christopher Newport actually cost?
Published tuition is $16,828 for in-state students and $31,178 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,460 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $23,015 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $10,417 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $24,238 |
| Room and board | $12,756 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $23,015 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 70% |
| Average need-based grant | $13,326 |
| Average merit award, no financial need271 first-year students received one | $3,911 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 49% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $36,265 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Christopher Newport
Will my child graduate from Christopher Newport?
These predict outcomes at Christopher Newport better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Christopher Newport
The most popular undergraduate programs at Christopher Newport, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Biology, General. Across all programs, Christopher Newport confers roughly 780 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $77,442 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 194 | $77,442 |
| Psychology, General | 146 | $52,834 |
| Biology, General | 127 | $59,142 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 89 | $58,422 |
| Political Science and Government | 74 | $62,548 |
| Sociology | 52 | $58,418 |
| Computer Science | 50 | $94,012 |
| History | 48 | $51,200 |
Is Christopher Newport safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Christopher Newport disclosed 19 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 7 violent offenses and 8 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Christopher Newport?
About 82% of undergraduates at Christopher Newport live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 19% of men join a fraternity and 21% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about
- University of Virginia-Main Campus17% acceptance
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University55% acceptance
- College of William and Mary34% acceptance
- James Madison University72% acceptance
- Old Dominion University90% acceptance
- George Mason University87% acceptance
- Virginia Commonwealth University93% acceptance
- Washington and Lee University14% acceptance
Next steps for Christopher Newport
Common questions parents ask about Christopher Newport
What GPA do I need for Christopher Newport?
Christopher Newport has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Christopher Newport typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 510–630, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–30.
How much does Christopher Newport actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Christopher Newport after grants and scholarships is $23,015 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $16,828 and $31,178 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Christopher Newport realistic for my child?
Christopher Newport admits 86% of applicants, so 510–630 SAT Math is target range and below 510 is a reach. Then check the $23,015 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Christopher Newport?
Christopher Newport accepts about 86% of applicants out of roughly 7,341 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Christopher Newport test-optional?
Yes. Christopher Newport is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Christopher Newport?
About 72% of students at Christopher Newport graduate within six years, and 64% finish in four years. 81% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Christopher Newport look for in applicants?
Christopher Newport rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Christopher Newport a public or private school, and where is it located?
Christopher Newport is a public institution located in Newport News, Virginia.
What are the most popular majors at Christopher Newport?
The largest undergraduate majors at Christopher Newport by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Biology, General. The school awards about 780 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Christopher Newport safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Christopher Newport reported 19 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Christopher Newport?
At Christopher Newport, 82% of undergraduates live on campus, 19% of men are in fraternities, 21% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Christopher Newport University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers