Undergraduate Student Achievement
Christopher Newport University’s goal is to increase our freshman-to-sophomore retention rate to 90 percent. CNU has implemented several programs designed to increase our freshman retention-rate in an effort to achieve the articulated aspirational goal.
| Cohort (first-time, full-time) | Freshman to Sophomore Retention Rate | Sophomore to Junior Retention Rate | Junior to Senior Retention Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2018 | 84.4% | ||
| Fall 2017 | 87.1% | 79.2% | |
| Fall 2016 | 88.2% | 77.9% | 76.1% |
| Fall 2015 | 86.1% | 77.9% | 74.3% |
| Fall 2014 | 87.5% | 82.2% | 79.9% |
| Fall 2013 | 87.0% | 80.1% | 77.6% |
| Fall 2012 | 83.9% | 75.9% | 73.5% |
| Fall 2011 | 84.7% | 77.8% | 74.5% |
| Fall 2010 | 84.3% | 78.2% | 75.0% |
| Fall 2009 | 81.5% | 73.7% | 70.8% |
| Fall 2008 | 80.0% | 71.9% | 69.1% |
The graduation rates of CNU’s freshman cohorts have also continued to grow, thanks to various university-initiated strategies. For the purposes of these studies, graduation rates indicate a percentage of the freshman cohort that graduated from Christopher Newport in six years. Christopher Newport University’s goal is to increase our six-year graduate rate to 80 percent.
| Cohort (first-time, full-time) | 4-Year Grad Rate | 5-Year Grad Rate | 6-Year Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2015 | 66.1% | ||
| Fall 2014 | 70.2% | 78.2% | |
| Fall 2013 | 68.1% | 76.8% | 78.0% |
| Fall 2012 | 62.7% | 71.0% | 72.5% |
| Fall 2011 | 63.5% | 73.2% | 74.5% |
| Fall 2010 | 62.9% | 73.7% | 74.8% |
| Fall 2009 | 56.8% | 68.6% | 70.0% |
| Fall 2008 | 55.0% | 66.4% | 67.5% |
| Fall 2007 | 49.8% | 63.7% | 65.5% |
| Fall 2006 | 50.7% | 65.0% | 67.4% |
| Fall 2005 | 46.4% | 60.8% | 63.2% |
Beyond retention and graduation data, Christopher Newport tracks the post-graduation outcomes of every senior class. Six months post-graduation, CNU administers the National Association of Career Educators First-Destination Survey which provides an overall profile of students’ plans – from graduate-school acceptance to employment offers (which are often impacted by the national economy).
Christopher Newport’s goal is to increase the percentage of students with full-time employment or graduate school / continuing education and decrease the number of students still seeking employment or graduate admission.
Three Year Outcomes Data Overview of Classes 2017 to 2019
| Class | Response Rate | Full-Time Employment or Grad School / Continuing Education | Still Seeking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 67.0% | 92.0% | 3.0% |
| 2018 | 71.0% | 86.0% | 6.0% |
| 2019 | 74.0% | 91.0% | 2.0% |