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The 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s rankings uphold Christopher Newport’s status as Virginia’s No. 1 regional public university. The University also moved up in a key ranking, rising to the No. 6 spot for Best Regional University in the South – public or private.
A vibrant student life, a caring faculty that helps students thrive, and a commitment to academic excellence were key factors contributing to the University’s continued success in the rankings. President William G. Kelly praised the hard work and dedication of the entire Christopher Newport community for this latest rankings success:
“This recognition reflects the hard work and accomplishments of our faculty, students, and staff,” said President Kelly. “We are proud that Christopher Newport continues its upward momentum in the U.S. News rankings. Our focus remains where it has always been: delivering an exceptional, affordable, and inclusive education anchored in excellence that prepares our students for meaningful careers and a life of significance."
The U.S. News rankings are based on a comprehensive evaluation of academic quality, student outcomes, faculty resources, institutional reputation, and other fundamental factors. CNU has been previously ranked as the No. 7 Best Regional University in the South, public or private. Additional key CNU rankings by U.S. News for 2025 include:
- No. 3 Best Public Regional University (South)
- No. 4 Best Regional College ( South) for Veterans
- No. 8 Best Regional College (South) for Undergraduate Teaching
The University also appears in the U.S. News 2025 rankings on the following lists:
- 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’s growth in the U. S. News rankings reflects a broader trend of national recognition for its commitment to student success. The University was recently named by the Princeton Review as one of the Nation’s Best Colleges for 2025, along with being ranked No. 1 for Dorms in Virginia and No. 4 nationwide. It was also included in Money magazine’s Best Colleges List, which recognizes educational quality, affordability and alumni success. Bloomberg Business named the Joseph W. Luter, III School of Business in its Best Undergraduate Business School rankings, alongside many other prestigious rankings.
While there is no separate U.S. News ranking for the No. 1 regional university in Virginia, Christopher Newport holds the highest position among all regional universities in Virginia.
The complete listing of the 2025 U.S. News rankings can be accessed here.