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Summary
Christopher Newport University is a public institution that was founded in 1960. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,778, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 260 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Christopher Newport University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (South), 26. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,084 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $18,946 (2011-12).
Located in Newport News, Va., Christopher Newport University (CNU) is a public school named after an English ship captain whose voyages took settlers to Jamestown and the Virginia colony. The university offers more than 80 areas of study, with small classes taught only by professors and never graduate assistants. Outside the classroom, CNU students can get involved by joining more than 100 clubs, pledging with numerous fraternities and sororities, or attending one of the many campus events, such as festivals and comedy shows. CNU students can venture off campus and explore the nearby James River and The Mariners’ Museum, or drive a few hours to beaches and the city life of Washington, D.C. Student athletes can play recreational sports or try out for more than 20 CNU Captains varsity teams, which compete in the NCAA Division III USA South Athletic Conference. Notable CNU alumni include Randall Munroe, who graduated with a physics degree and worked as a NASA roboticist before creating the popular xkcd.com Web comic.
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Named one of the nation's "367 Best Colleges" by The Princeton Review in its 2012 edition, Christopher Newport University (CNU) is a public school offering a private school experience - great teaching, small classes and a safe, vibrant campus. A "student-first, teaching-first" community, CNU is dedicated to the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service. We celebrate the values inherent in the liberal arts and sciences and live as a community of honor transforming hearts and minds. Led by former U.S. Senator Paul Trible, CNU is a university of choice for high-ability students. Over the past decade, applications have soared by 700 percent, and SAT scores have increased by 260 points. In recent years, CNU has added more than 100 tenure-track PhDs to its distinguished faculty. As the faculty continues to grow, the University will maintain a freshman class of 1,200, which will drive down the average class size from 24 to 14. CNU isn't getting bigger; it's getting better. We offer outstanding academic programs; promote service, honor and leadership; and provide rich opportunities for undergraduate research - a rare occurrence at many universities. Stellar teaching, personal attention and faculty-student mentorship allow creativity and excellence to flourish. CNU students develop the qualities of mind and spirit to lead lives of significance, thanks to a curriculum that stimulates intellectual inquiry and fosters civic responsibility. Each fall, the President's Leadership Program accepts approximately 350 high-achieving freshmen who have exhibited leadership characteristics in their schools and communities. Through the four-year Honors Program, academically talented students enjoy a rich educational experience, participating in challenging courses and cultural/intellectual activities. Additional signature programs prepare students for career success. Through the Pre-Med and Pre-Health Program, qualified students may apply for early acceptance to Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). Students successful in this highly competitive process receive, before the end of their sophomore year, guaranteed admission to EVMS after graduating from CNU (without having to take the MCAT). Led by a former solicitor general for Virginia, the Pre-Law Program helps students gain admission to the nation's top 25 law schools. The Master of Arts in Teaching program allows students to earn a graduate degree with just one additional year of study beyond the bachelor's degree. Through Learning Communities, freshmen enroll in at least three courses with the same 15-30 students. Courses are based on an academic interest, satisfy graduation requirements and smooth the transition into college by connecting like-minded students. All freshmen are assigned a core faculty advisor who mentors them for two years, provides academic support, helps with course selection, and introduces campus resources and engagement opportunities. The University promotes study abroad for all students, sponsoring international study programs for cross-cultural education and growth. This includes a permanent relationship with the University of Oxford and dozens of smaller, faculty-led programs. Faculty and students interact on a beautiful 260-acre campus. CNU has completed more than $600 million in capital construction over the past decade and will undergo an additional $500 million by 2020. The Mariners' Museum Library, which contains the Western Hemisphere's largest maritime collection, is housed in CNU's Paul and Rosemary Trible Library and provides an incomparable resource for students, faculty and researchers. Across campus, CNU students make their mark by participating in more than 100 extra-curricular activities. High achievers in both the classroom and on the field of play, the University's student-athletes have helped make CNU athletics one of the nation's most successful NCAA Division III programs. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1960 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2010 Endowment | $12,483,594 |
Applying
When applying to Christopher Newport University, it's important to note the application deadline is February 1, and the early action deadline and the early decision deadline are December 1 and November 15, respectively. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due April 1. The application fee at Christopher Newport University is $50. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 60.2 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 60% |
| Application deadline | February 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | April 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Christopher Newport University is 17:1, and the school has 28.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Christopher Newport University include: Business Administration and Management, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Psychology, General; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; and Political Science and Government, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 80.8 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 17:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 42% - Medium | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Christopher Newport University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,778, with a gender distribution of 43.2 percent male students and 56.8 percent female students. 61.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 39.0 percent of students live off campus. Christopher Newport University is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 4,916 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Christopher Newport University offers a number of student services including health service. Christopher Newport University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Christopher Newport University, 63 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Christopher Newport University.
| Students who have cars on campus | 63% - Medium |
| Health insurance offered | No |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Christopher Newport University, 44.6 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $5,087.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $10,084 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $18,946 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $9,528 (2011-12) - Medium |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
