Head-to-head comparison
Old Dominion University vs Christopher Newport University: which has better ROI?
Option A Norfolk, VA
Old Dominion University
- Net price / year
- $14,638
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,914
- Payback
- 8.9 yrs
Option B Newport News, VA
Christopher Newport University
- Net price / year
- $23,015
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,509
- Payback
- 7.6 yrs
Christopher Newport University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,060 in 7.6 years versus 8.9 years at Old Dominion University, on median earnings of $60,509 vs $54,914 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Old Dominion University | Christopher Newport University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,638 | $23,015 |
| Total net cost | $58,552 | $92,060 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,914 | $60,509 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 7.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $72,528 | $150,920 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Old Dominion University or Christopher Newport University?
Old Dominion University, at $14,638 a year after aid versus $23,015 — a gap of $8,377 a year, or $33,508 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 Old Dominion University or Christopher Newport University graduates earn more?
Christopher Newport University graduates report a median $60,509 ten years after entry, $5,595 more than the $54,914 at Old Dominion 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, Old Dominion University or Christopher Newport University?
Old Dominion University: its completers carry a median $24,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Christopher Newport University, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Christopher Newport University, against 46% at Old Dominion 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.