Centra College vs. RU

Comparable Facts

Compare Centra College in Lynchburg, VA with Radford University in Radford, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Radford University is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (7,812 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Centra College is located in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting); Radford University is in Radford, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Radford University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Centra College 3:1; Radford University 14:1.

Centra College vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centra College or RU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 0.6% lower than at Radford University ($12,424 vs. $12,504).
• Centra College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RU (about $435 more per year; $12,983.00 vs. $12,548.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 97.4% higher at RU than at Centra College (about $12,650 more per year; $25,633.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Radford University than at Centra College (94% vs. 0%).

Centra College vs. RU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Centra College or RU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RU and Centra College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRadford University 940/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRadford University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Centra College - Test-free; RU - Test optional.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than RU (89.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 0% at Centra College vs. 14.4% at RU.

Centra College vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Centra College and RU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Radford University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Centra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $10,958 lower median loan debt than RU graduates ($12,042 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RU graduates ($124 vs. $237).
• More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centra College students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.