Rankings and Recognition
Christopher Newport University continues to earn high marks in respected college rankings, for the quality and rigor of academic programs and the solid value students receive.
Christopher Newport is ranked first among regional public universities in Virginia, third in the South among regional public universities and sixth among all regional universities, public and private, in the South. A regional university is one that generally does not offer doctoral programs.
The university also appears in the 2025 US News rankings in the following lists:
- No. 4 Best Regional College (South) for Veterans
- No. 8 Best Regional College (South) for Undergraduate Teaching
- Best Value Schools
- Best Undergraduate Business Programs
- Best Undergraduate Economics Programs
- Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs
Christopher Newport is included in Money magazine's Best Colleges listing, which recognize educational quality, affordability and alumni success.
Christopher Newport is ranked one of the nation’s best 389 colleges, one of the best in the Southeast and one of the nation’s best values. It is also ranked among the nation’s top 10 universities in these categories:
- Making an Impact, Public (#9)
- Internships, Public (#7)
Additional Rankings
The undergraduate program at the Joseph W. Luter, III School of Business was included in the Bloomberg Businessweek Best Undergraduate Business Schools rankings. The program is ranked No. 93 among all undergraduate business schools, based on what students want most from business schools, specifically the brightest possible career path.
Business First's nationwide listing of the best 499 public colleges in the U.S. ranks CNU as No. 126. The study’s objective was to identify the public universities and colleges that offer the best educational experiences to their students. The highest marks went to schools with:
- Highly selective admissions processes
- Strong retention and graduation rates
- Impressive earnings by alumni
- Generous resources
- Affordable tuition and housing costs
- Diverse faculties and student bodies
- Economically robust communities
College Choice lists CNU in its Best Colleges rankings. They account for three central factors: student body diversity, academic quality and return on investment, which they analyze using data from IPEDS, a database on higher education statistics available through the National Center for Education Statistics.
Christopher Newport’s Master of Arts in Teaching earns "A+" and is designated as “exemplary” for the way it educates graduate students using scientifically-based instruction methods. CNU is one of only 48 teaching programs in the nation to earn this.
- No. 36 in the nation for Best College Dorms in America (No. 1 in Virginia public schools)
- No. 62 in the nation for Best College Campuses in America
- No. 135 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America
Christopher Newport ranked No. 3 among public universities and No. 6 among all universities, both public and private, in a ranking of master’s degree-granting institutions offering short programs. CNU also ranked No. 10 nationally in total student abroad participation.
Poets and Quants ranks the Luter School of Business No. 7 when graduates were asked whether their degree was worth its cost in time and resources, and No. 10 when they were asked about the quality of teaching. Overall, Luter’s undergraduate degree program is ranked No. 63 and among the top four in Virginia.
CNU's master's degree programs in elementary education rank No. 5 in the nation according to Top Master's in Education, which uses evidence-based research to provide objective rankings and critical reviews of master's in education degree programs and colleges of education, both traditional and online.
Christopher Newport is one of nine colleges and universities nationwide honored in the Summer 2016 Models of Excellence program, which recognizes innovative approaches to encouraging and nurturing student success on campus.
In addition, CNU’s campus design and buildings have been featured multiple times in Design Develop Construct Journal, a leading construction industry publication.
World University Rankings placed Christopher Newport in the top tier of its 2025 Best Value University Rankings for International Students. CNU was ranked in the top 25% of more than 8500 institutions that cater to diverse communities and have proven global influence.