Median Earnings (1yr)
$54,432
81st percentile
60th percentile in Virginia
Median Debt
$24,250
7% below national median

Analysis

Christopher Newport's business program places graduates well ahead of typical outcomes for this degree, with first-year earnings of $54,432β€”about $9,000 above both national and state medians. This isn't William & Mary or Washington & Lee territory, but that 81st percentile national ranking reflects genuine market strength, and the $24,250 debt load comes in notably below Virginia's typical $27,000 for business programs.

The trajectory looks solid: earnings climb to $65,162 by year four, putting graduates roughly on par with James Madison outcomes and closing in on Virginia Tech. That 20% growth suggests these graduates are building careers rather than plateauing early. The 60th percentile state ranking might seem middling, but remember Virginia's business landscape includes several elite programs that skew those comparisonsβ€”being middle-of-the-pack here still means clearing strong baseline outcomes.

The 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio signals manageable financial pressure from day one. With an 88% admission rate, this program offers accessible entry to above-average business outcomes without the debt burden common at many Virginia schools. For families seeking solid business fundamentals and reasonable costs, the numbers justify confidence in this investment.

Where Christopher Newport University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business administration, management and operations bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Christopher Newport University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Christopher Newport University$54,432$65,162+20%
Washington and Lee University$76,627$98,403+28%
William & Mary$75,038$85,678+14%
University of Richmond$68,151$79,209+16%
James Madison University$65,931$68,297+4%

Compare to Similar Programs in Virginia

Business Administration, Management and Operations bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Virginia (43 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Christopher Newport UniversityNewport News$16,351$54,432$65,162$24,2500.45
Washington and Lee UniversityLexington$64,525$76,627$98,403β€”β€”
William & MaryWilliamsburg$25,040$75,038$85,678$19,8120.26
University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond$62,600$68,151$79,209$20,5000.30
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg$13,576$65,931$68,297$19,7500.30
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg$15,478$60,678$60,297$22,5350.37
National Medianβ€”$45,703β€”$26,0000.57

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business administration, management and operations graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Christopher Newport University, approximately 15% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 161 graduates with reported earnings and 183 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.