Christopher Newport University: Acceptance Rate, Admissions Statistics

Christopher Newport University is a public liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 72%. The university is located on a 260-acre campus in Newport News, Virginia. Among undergraduates, majors in business, social science, psychology, and biology are popular. CNU has over 200 student clubs and organizations, including an active fraternity and sorority community. The CNU Captains compete primarily in the Capital Athletic Conference.

Considering applying to Christopher Newport College? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Christopher Newport University had an acceptance rate of 72%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 72 students were admitted, making CNU's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Christopher Newport University has a test-optional admissions policy. Applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in a rigorous high school curriculum, or those who rank in the top 10% of their class, are eligible to apply test-optional. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 90% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Christopher Newport University's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to CNU scored between 570 and 650, while 25% scored below 570 and 25% scored above 650. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 540 and 630, while 25% scored below 540 and 25% scored above 630. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1280 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Christopher Newport University.

Requirements

Christopher Newport University does not require SAT scores for admission for students who rank in the top 10% of their class or those with an average GPA of 3.5 and above. For students who choose to submit scores, note that CNU participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Christopher Newport does not require the essay section of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Christopher Newport University has a test-optional admissions policy. Applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in a rigorous high school curriculum, or those who rank in the top 10% of their class, are eligible to apply test-optional. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 26% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Christopher Newport University's admitted students fall within the top 36% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to CNU received a composite ACT score between 22 and 27, while 25% scored above 27 and 25% scored below 22.

Requirements

Note that CNU does not require ACT scores for admission for students who rank in the top 10% of their class or those with an average GPA of 3.5 and above. For students who choose to submit scores, Christopher Newport does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. CNU does not require the optional ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of Christopher Newport University's incoming freshmen class was 3.83, and 60% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Christopher Newport University have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Christopher Newport University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Christopher Newport University, which accepts nearly three-quarters of applicants, has somewhat competitive admissions. However, CNU also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule with an upward trend in grades. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. CNU strongly recommends that applicants participate in an optional interview as a way to get to know the university and demonstrate interest. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Christopher Newport's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of successful applicants had high school GPAs of "B+" or better, combined SAT scores of about 1050 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 21 or better. A significant percentage of successful applicants had grades in the "A" range.

If You Like Christopher Newport University, You May Also Like These Schools

• University of Virginia
• College of William and Mary
• George Mason University
• James Madison University
• Elon University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Christopher Newport University Undergraduate Admissions Office.