Head-to-head comparison
Christopher Newport University vs Marymount University: which has better ROI?
Option A Newport News, VA
Christopher Newport University
- Net price / year
- $23,015
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,509
- Payback
- 7.6 yrs
Option B Arlington, VA
Marymount University
- Net price / year
- $29,137
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,516
- Payback
- 6.1 yrs
Marymount University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $116,548 in 6.1 years versus 7.6 years at Christopher Newport University, on median earnings of $67,516 vs $60,509 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Christopher Newport University | Marymount University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,015 | $29,137 |
| Total net cost | $92,060 | $116,548 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,509 | $67,516 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 7.6 yrs | 6.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $150,920 | $266,572 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Christopher Newport University or Marymount University?
Christopher Newport University, at $23,015 a year after aid versus $29,137 — a gap of $6,122 a year, or $24,488 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Christopher Newport University or Marymount University graduates earn more?
Marymount University graduates report a median $67,516 ten years after entry, $7,007 more than the $60,509 at Christopher Newport University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Christopher Newport University or Marymount University?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Christopher Newport University, against 54% at Marymount University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.