Christopher Newport University (CNU)

At Christopher Newport University we care about minds and hearts. We want our students to choose to lead lives of meaning and consequence and purpose. We call that a life of significance.

At this affordable, public university in Virginia, students study the liberal arts and sciences. Christopher Newport is ranked among the nation's top universities for the value it offers, for its science facilities, for its four-year graduation rate, and for the quality of its business school.

Our classes are small and rigorous, and our professors know their students by name. We offer a nationally respected President's Leadership Program. We celebrate our speaking tradition and honor code. We open doors for each other. Our teams are among the winningest in the nation. Our performing and visual arts facilities are world class. Our campus is stunningly beautiful, close to beaches and big cities and endless opportunities for internships and careers.

Because our students care so much about the world around them, they perform thousands of hours of meaningful community service. Our students lead and serve with honor and a commitment to excellence.

Student Clubs
With more than 200 student clubs and organizations, Christopher Newport offers activities in a wide range of interests.
Athletics
One of the nation's most successful NCAA Division III programs
24 Varsity Teams
700 + All-Americans
80 Individual and team championships
Top winning percentage nearly every year among all Virginia schools

Students at Christopher Newport speak highly of their "driven and friendly" peers. It's easy to understand why. The vast majority "are super optimistic and outgoing people who love to get involved in organizations both on and off campus." They also tend to be "overwhelmingly kind," but share "a strange unspoken expectation for all students to present themselves as more formal." You'll often see students "go out of their way to open doors and smile at strangers." But don't worry; their kindness is no less authentic! "While walking to class you quickly see friends or classmates, and nobody is afraid to wave or ask how your day is going." Although a few individuals do caution that the university is a "predominantly white institution," and it can feel as though "most students come from the Northern Virginia or Richmond area," rest assured, even if you don't fit that mold, you'll still find everyone is "very respectful" and "welcoming community." As this undergrad sums up, "The student body at Christopher Newport is the...most supportive network any student can ask for. It is truly a community."

Christopher Newport's modest size belies a campus that's always abuzz with activity. "The fact that [it is] a smaller campus does not mean there are fewer opportunities to be involved." With "over 200 clubs and organizations at CNU" and "students are always going to events put on by their student organizations or to ones put on by our Campus Activities Board." Importantly, these clubs run the gamut; there's everything from "the student-run farmers market and sustainability commission" to "CNU Survivor...a club [that] mimic[s] the show Survivor on [CBS]." There are also many opportunities to "volunteer at local community sites." Moreover, it's common for students to "fill their days by working on campus." One undergrad explains, "CNU has a lot of job opportunities for students that allow us to study and work simultaneously."

Undergrads here love taking advantage of the nice weather as well. In the "warmer seasons a lot of students will fill the many lawns of the campus with frisbees, lacrosse sticks, footballs, etc." Then again, it's easy to get a break from campus life if you need. In fact, it's part of a classic CNU tradition. "One signature activity here at CNU is watching the sunset at a location called Lions Bridge. It's roughly a 30-minute walk from campus and a 10minute drive to watch the beautiful pinks and oranges set over the coast." No matter oncampus or off, "there always seems to be fun things to do."

The tagline of Christopher Newport University’s Center for Career Planning says it all: “You Get Jobs by Talking to People.” That’s what you get here: through job fairs, career events, and proximity (the school is “located near some big companies who offer internships”), nearly 3,000 employers visit each year. That’s especially impressive when you consider the total enrollment is only around 4,500 students. CNU also makes a point of the “four pillars” of opportunity: internships, study abroad, undergraduate research, and community engagement. Especially strong students with high GPAs, can also apply for the selective President’s Leadership Program—a four-year focus on experiential learning that teaches them “how to be a better student, person, and employee in the future.” Per the school’s outcomes for the class of 2019, only 3% of its graduates are still looking for a job, and the rest have a median starting salary of $56,300 a year.