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Christopher Newport University: 20180827 FirstDay 009 1-2
Photo: CNU OCPR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Christopher Newport University

  • LocationNewport News, VA
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 4,503 students
Official website

Christopher Newport University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport University meets in its CCM House at 91 Shoe Lane, next to campus, which has a Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The ministry lists Sunday Mass at noon in the Pope Chapel on campus while classes are in session, and weekly and monthly confession times. Its student activities include Monday adoration, a fall retreat, OCIA classes, small groups, and weekly volunteering.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Sunday12:00 PMPope Chapel, Christopher Newport University campus · While classes are in session.

Confession 3

  • Thursday12:30 PMCCM House · Typically the first Thursday of the month.
  • Wednesday5:00 PMOur Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church · 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. as listed by the ministry.
  • Saturday3:00 PMOur Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church · 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. as listed by the ministry.

Adoration 1

  • Monday2:00 PMCCM House Chapel · 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 14, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Sacraments | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “While classes are in session, there is Sunday Mass in the Pope Chapel at noon.”
    The ministry lists Sunday Mass at noon in the Pope Chapel while classes are in session.
    “Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be offered each Monday from 2:00-4:00 pm in the CCM House Chapel”
    Adoration is offered each Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the CCM House Chapel.
    “The Sacrament of Confession is typically offered on the first Thursday of the month at 12:30pm in the CCM House.”
    Confession is typically offered on the first Thursday of the month at 12:30 p.m. at the CCM House.
    “Confession is also offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, on Wednesdays from 5:00pm-6:30pm and Saturdays from 3:00pm-5:00pm.”
    The ministry lists confession at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
    “Confession is also offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, on Wednesdays from 5:00pm-6:30pm and Saturdays from 3:00pm-5:00pm.”
    The ministry lists confession at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Plan a campus visit Mass times for your dates, questions to ask, and a calendar button.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Christopher Newport University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 miCatholic Campus Ministry (CCM House): 0.2 miChristopher Newport University (campus)N0.1 mi
CampusCatholic centerOpen a street map ›

No Catholic churches are mapped in OpenStreetMap within 3 miles. The map may be incomplete; check the local diocese’s parish directory.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

CCatholic life on campus: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

68 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (3)
    1. Student Organizations | Christopher Newport Universitycnu.edu/life/student-involvement/student-orgs.html · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Catholic Campus Ministry Roman Catholic on-campus ministry.”
      The university's student organization directory lists the Catholic Campus Ministry.
    2. CCM House | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/studentcenter · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Located right next to CNU's campus at 91 Shoe Ln, the Catholic Campus Ministry house serves as a place to hang out with friends, pray, and study.”
      The CCM House is next to campus at 91 Shoe Lane and is used for prayer and study.
    3. About | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/about · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “91 Shoe Lane Newport News, VA 23606 ccm@cnu.edu”
      The ministry's contact address is 91 Shoe Lane, Newport News, VA 23606, with the office email ccm@cnu.edu.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusYes (The CCM House is next to campus and has a Blessed Sacrament Chapel.)
    Sources (1)
    1. CCM House | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/studentcenter · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Located right next to CNU's campus at 91 Shoe Ln, the Catholic Campus Ministry house serves as a place to hang out with friends, pray, and study.”
      The CCM House is next to campus at 91 Shoe Lane and is used for prayer and study.
      “The house also has a Blessed Sacrament Chapel”
      The CCM House has a Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (Fr. Dan Beeman is listed as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which the ministry lists as its home parish; he celebrates Mass on campus and visits the CCM House monthly to hear confessions.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/staff · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Father Dan Beeman has served as Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel since 2019.”
      Fr. Dan Beeman is pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the parish that the ministry links to.
      “Fr. Dan regularly celebrates Mass on campus and visits the CCM House each month to hear confessions”
      Fr. Dan celebrates Mass on campus and hears confessions at the CCM House monthly.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (One Sunday Mass on campus, at noon in the Pope Chapel, while classes are in session.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Sacraments | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “While classes are in session, there is Sunday Mass in the Pope Chapel at noon.”
      The ministry lists Sunday Mass at noon in the Pope Chapel while classes are in session.
    2. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Churcholmc.org · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Sunday: 8am, 10am, 12pm (CNU Campus - Pope Chapel) 2pm (Spanish), 5pm”
      The parish lists a 12 p.m. Sunday Mass at the CNU campus Pope Chapel.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryWeekly or more often (Confession is listed weekly at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Saturdays at 3 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 5 p.m., and monthly at the CCM House.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Sacraments | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Confession is also offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, on Wednesdays from 5:00pm-6:30pm and Saturdays from 3:00pm-5:00pm.”
      The ministry lists confession at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
      “The Sacrament of Confession is typically offered on the first Thursday of the month at 12:30pm in the CCM House.”
      Confession is typically offered on the first Thursday of the month at 12:30 p.m. at the CCM House.
    2. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Churcholmc.org · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Saturday: 3pm Confessions | 5pm Mass for Sunday”
      The parish lists Saturday confessions at 3 p.m.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (Catholic Campus Ministry is the only Catholic student organization found in the university's directory.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Student Organizations | Christopher Newport Universitycnu.edu/life/student-involvement/student-orgs.html · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Catholic Campus Ministry Roman Catholic on-campus ministry.”
      The university's student organization directory lists the Catholic Campus Ministry.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Kinds found: retreat, OCIA, small groups, and service (Hidenwood volunteering).)
    Sources (4)
    1. Becoming Catholic | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/ocia · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Consider attending our OCIA classes on Thursday nights at 7pm at the CCM House.”
      OCIA classes are held on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. at the CCM House.
    2. Small Groups | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/smallgroups · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Small groups meet on a weekly basis and allow students to grow in their faith in community.”
      Small groups meet weekly.
    3. Fall Retreat | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/fallretreat · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “We will have talks, small groups, and community building activities, culminating in Confessions, Holy Mass, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.”
      The Fall Retreat includes talks, small groups, Confession, Mass, and Adoration.
      “Where: 620 Buckroe Ave, Hampton, VA 23664”
      The Fall Retreat is held at 620 Buckroe Ave, Hampton, VA.
    4. Weekly Events | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/weekly-events · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Every Friday from 3-5pm a group of students go to the Hidenwood Retirement Community to spend time with their residents.”
      Students volunteer every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Hidenwood Retirement Community.
  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)None mapped within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (5 weekly times documented: 1 Mass, 3 confession, 1 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

Concerns

  • The ministry's sacraments page lists one Mass, on Sundays, and no weekday Mass.
    Sources (1)
    1. Sacraments | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/sacraments · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “While classes are in session, there is Sunday Mass in the Pope Chapel at noon.”
      The ministry lists Sunday Mass at noon in the Pope Chapel while classes are in session.
  • The ministry's priest is the pastor of a parish off campus, and the staff page describes his time at the house as monthly confessions.
    Sources (1)
    1. Staff | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/staff · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Father Dan Beeman has served as Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel since 2019.”
      Fr. Dan Beeman is pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the parish that the ministry links to.
      “Fr. Dan regularly celebrates Mass on campus and visits the CCM House each month to hear confessions”
      Fr. Dan celebrates Mass on campus and hears confessions at the CCM House monthly.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM House)

  • Address: 91 Shoe Lane, Newport News, VA 23606
  • Location: Next to campus
  • Distance from campus: 0.2 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)
  • Facilities: chapel, study space

View on map ↗

Source: cnuccm.org, verified Oct. 14, 2026, cnuccm.org, verified Oct. 14, 2026, cnuccm.org, verified Oct. 14, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

10 groups and regular activities · 1 on campus, 6 off campus, 3 location not published

Faith formation 4

  • Prayer NightOff campus
    Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
    Weekly prayer gathering at the CCM House, practicing a different form of prayer each week.
    cnuccm.org
  • OCIA classesOff campus
    Thursday nights at 7 p.m.
    Classes for adults interested in joining the Catholic Church, at the CCM House.
    cnuccm.org
  • Theology Thursday
    Thursdays 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.
    Weekly gathering to discuss short theological readings over lunch.
    cnuccm.org
  • Small groups
    Weekly
    Student small groups that meet to discuss Scripture and pray together.
    cnuccm.org

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Milkshake Monday with AdorationOff campus
    Mondays, adoration 2 to 4 p.m., then milkshakes 3 to 5 p.m.
    Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by a free milkshake and fellowship at the CCM House.
    cnuccm.org, cnuccm.org
  • Sunday Mass in the Pope ChapelOn campus
    Sundays at 12 p.m. while classes are in session
    Sunday Mass in the Pope Chapel on the CNU campus.
    cnuccm.org, olmc.org

Retreats 1

  • Fall RetreatOff campus
    Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20
    Overnight retreat with talks, small groups, Confession, Mass, and Adoration at 620 Buckroe Ave, Hampton, VA.
    cnuccm.org, cnuccm.org, cnuccm.org

Service 1

  • Hidenwood VolunteeringOff campus
    Fridays 3 to 5 p.m.
    Students spend time with residents of the Hidenwood Retirement Community.
    cnuccm.org

Social life 1

  • Sunday SupperOff campus
    Sundays at 6 p.m.
    Dinner and fellowship at the CCM House.
    cnuccm.org

Clubs and groups 1

  • Catholic Captains
    The ministry's student group, with a club roster and weekly email updates.
    cnuccm.org, cnu.edu

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (3)
  1. CCM House | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/studentcenter · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “Located right next to CNU's campus at 91 Shoe Ln, the Catholic Campus Ministry house serves as a place to hang out with friends, pray, and study.”
    The CCM House is next to campus at 91 Shoe Lane and is used for prayer and study.
    “Located right next to CNU's campus at 91 Shoe Ln, the Catholic Campus Ministry house serves as a place to hang out with friends, pray, and study.”
    The CCM House is next to campus at 91 Shoe Lane and is used for prayer and study.
    “The house also has a Blessed Sacrament Chapel”
    The CCM House has a Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
  2. Student Organizations | Christopher Newport Universitycnu.edu/life/student-involvement/student-orgs.html · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “Catholic Campus Ministry Roman Catholic on-campus ministry.”
    The university's student organization directory lists the Catholic Campus Ministry.
  3. About | Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport Universitycnuccm.org/about · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “91 Shoe Lane Newport News, VA 23606 ccm@cnu.edu”
    The ministry's contact address is 91 Shoe Lane, Newport News, VA 23606, with the office email ccm@cnu.edu.

Reach out

Contact details for Conner Cummings (Director of Campus Ministry) and 3 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
77 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.72%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.81%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,180 · ACT 27.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$12,950

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division III · Capital Athletic Conference
SettingCity
ROTCArmy
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member13 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
4,407
Total students4,503
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$23,015
Cost of attendance (per year)$33,766
Median federal debt at graduation$25,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
72%
First-year retention81%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$60,509
Admission rate86%
Students receiving Pell grants16%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1060–1290ACT 25–30
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1180
SAT reading & writing550–660
SAT math510–630
ACT composite25–30
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 58 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Richmond

The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of Richmond

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: richmonddiocese.org, richmonddiocese.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 231712
  • Carnegie classification: Master's university (small programs)
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Christopher Newport University a Catholic college?
No. Christopher Newport University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Catholic Campus Ministry at Christopher Newport University.
What is Christopher Newport University’s Catholic Life Score?
70 out of 100 (grade C). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Christopher Newport University?
Mass is listed at Pope Chapel and Christopher Newport University campus. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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