Newport News, Virginia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Newport News, Virginia: median public in-state tuition $16,828 (+205.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $60,509 (+11.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $14,787 (+11.4% vs U.S.) 5,042 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Newport News serve students across Virginia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 8 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,042 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $16,828. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Newport News, Virginia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Newport News vs Virginia & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News, Virginia | $16,828 | $23,015 | $14,787 | 85.8% | 5,042 |
| Virginia (state median) | $5,400 | $8,852 | $20,000 | 57.0% | 382,210 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Newport News, Virginia vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News, Virginia | $60,509 | 92.1% | 81.2% | 2.7% | — | 83.3% | 0.41 |
| Virginia (state median) | $54,869 | 86.8% | 75.7% | 4.1% | — | 74.4% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Virginia (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News, Virginia | $16,828 | $23,015 | $14,787 | 85.8% | 5,042 | $60,509 | 92.1% |
| Lynchburg | $17,724 | $21,253 | $24,250 | 57.4% | 55,015 | $53,409 | 82.4% |
| Norfolk | $16,337 | $19,164 | $14,750 | 42.4% | 36,344 | $49,790 | 87.0% |
| Blacksburg | $15,948 | $24,953 | $21,678 | 86.2% | 30,923 | $81,698 | 90.7% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Fairfax | $14,220 | $17,915 | $19,500 | 67.8% | 27,752 | $76,343 | 86.1% |
| Harrisonburg | $29,085 | $23,955 | $22,453 | 73.4% | 21,642 | $62,412 | 90.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 71.6%, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.1%, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Most selective college in Newport News, Virginia (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 86.0%, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $72,128, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $101,900, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,931, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $57,119, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $60,509, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $167,823, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Most affordable college in Newport News, Virginia (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $23,015, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Top college in Newport News, Virginia by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 81.2%, Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
In-state tuition: Newport News, Virginia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Newport News, Virginia median in-state tuition is $16,828, +205.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Newport News, Virginia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Newport News, Virginia is $14,787 (+11.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Newport News, Virginia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Newport News, Virginia center around $60,509 (+11.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Newport News, Virginia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.1% at the median Newport News, Virginia campus (+4.1 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Newport News, Virginia median public in-state tuition is $16,828, about +205.3% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +237.1%.
Median graduate debt is $14,787 (+11.4% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Newport News, Virginia are $60,509, about +11.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 92.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+4.1 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 81.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 83.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Christopher Newport University (92.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Newport News, Virginia is 85.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Newport News?
This city profile covers 8 campuses in Newport News, Virginia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Newport News?
Median in-state tuition in Newport News is $16,828 and median net price is $23,015. For Virginia overall, medians are $5,400 and $8,852; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Newport News?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Newport News is $60,509 vs $54,869 for Virginia and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Newport News colleges?
Median completer debt in Newport News is $14,787 vs $20,000 for Virginia and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Newport News?
Top campuses on this page include Christopher Newport University (graduation) and Christopher Newport University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Newport News?
Among 7 College Scorecard campuses in Newport News, Virginia, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Virginia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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