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Christopher Newport University has once again earned a spot among the nation’s top undergraduate institutions, thanks to its supportive faculty and vibrant sense of community.
Additionally, the survey singled out the University’s residence halls as being among the very best in the country. Christopher Newport’s ratings appear in the education services company’s 2025 edition of its annual college guide, “The Best 390 Colleges.”
Unlike many other ranking systems that rely on institutional data and peer evaluations, The Princeton Review's “Best Colleges” rankings are determined by student surveys. As a result of these firsthand student experiences, Christopher Newport has landed on several of Princeton Review’s prestigious lists this year:
- The Best 390 Colleges
- Best Mid-Atlantic
- Best College Dorms (#4 nationally among public universities and #1 in Virginia)
“Being selected among the best residence halls in the nation is a great honor for our Residence Life and Housing Team and Christopher Newport University,” said Scott Nonemaker, Director of Residence Life and Housing Administration. “We are proud of our residence halls and even prouder of our students who live in them. And our staff that takes care of the students, the buildings and the grounds brings it all to life.
“Our lobbies have fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, creating a grand entrance of sorts,” Nonemaker added. “Students in our main campus facilities are greeted by front desk staff who check their IDs and sign guests into the building. Students share a room in Jack and Jill-style units that share a bathroom. Each unit is air-conditioned and has a microwave/refrigerator unit.”
Students surveyed praised Christopher Newport’s dorms as being “like palaces,” but the University’s dedication to creating a top-tier living experience goes beyond aesthetics and amenities. For example, all first, second and third-year students are guaranteed housing, thanks to seven residence halls and the Greek Village. Additionally, there are a variety of on-campus apartment buildings that allow students to experience more freedom while still being supported with on-campus security. They also enjoy the convenience of walking to classes, the library and dining halls.
“Our residence halls allow students to grow and develop throughout their campus life. Students learn to live with others during their first couple of years and then move to our apartments to have the ‘off-campus’ feel with the on-campus security and safety measures,” said Nonemaker. “Our apartment-style housing has single bedrooms in a shared apartment. Most students have their own bathrooms in the apartments.”
Providing a variety of housing options is one of the many ways Christopher Newport creates a well-rounded college experience for students, contributing to its recognition as one of the nation’s best colleges.
"The colleges we profile in our book are truly a select group: they constitute about 15% of America's four-year institutions. We chose them primarily based on our high opinion of their academic offerings," said Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief of The Princeton Review and author of “The Best 390 Colleges.”