Christopher Newport University is a public liberal arts university in Newport News, Virginia, and it's one of the better-kept secrets in the Commonwealth. Small classes are actually built into the mission; professors teach, not graduate assistants. The curriculum emphasizes writing and critical thinking from day one. It genuinely feels like a liberal arts college that happens to be public.
Newport News is military-adjacent but not militarized. The campus is attractive and walkable. The student body is Virginia-heavy and middle-class, which shapes the culture. Tuition is reasonable for what you're getting. The four-year graduation rate is genuinely impressive for a public university.
This is for students who want a real liberal arts education without paying liberal arts college prices or dealing with massive intro classes. The network is growing. Employers recognize the degree. You'll graduate actually knowing how to write and think, which matters more than any ranking.