CSU vs. RU

Should I go to California State University Chico or Radford University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or RU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Chico vs. Radford University comparison
California State University Chico Radford University College 3 College 4
California State University Chico Radford University
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Overview

CSU RU
Location Chico, CA Radford, VA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 14,183 7,718
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #659 #566
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuchico.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU RU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $20,246
Room & Board $15,212 $10,567
Avg Net Price $15,517 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $9,162 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 96%

Admission

CSU RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,417 11,442
Admitted 20,347 10,680
Acceptance Rate 95% 93.3%
Enrolled % 9.9% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/23
SAT Range 970/1170 960/1160
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Dec 15, 2024

Academics

CSU RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

CSU RU
Graduation Rate 59% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,400 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,000 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $175 $237

Diversity

CSU RU
% Men 45% 33%
% Women 55% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 46% 71%
% Black 2% 13%
% Hispanic 29% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

CSU RU
% In-State 97% 89%
% Out-of-State 2% 11%

Campus

CSU RU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Chico is larger than than RU based on total student enrollment (14,183 students vs. 7,718 students)

CSU vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or RU?

  • Radford University is 42% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.9% higher at RU than California State University Chico ($20,246.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than RU ($15,517 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 44% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($10,567 vs. $15,212)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than California State University Chico (96% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 6.2% larger than aid received California State University Chico ($9,733 vs. $9,162)

CSU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or RU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RU or CSU .

  • Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at RU (3.31)
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than RU (93.3%)

CSU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU or RU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RU and CSU.

  • The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Radford University (59% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $5,000 more per year than RU graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $47,400)
  • California State University Chico students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RU graduates. ($17,000 vs. $23,000)
  • CSU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than RU graduates. ($175 vs. $237)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/