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Old Dominion CofC Longwood University JMU VSU Virginia Tech VCU Mason PC University of Lynchburg Coastal Carolina UVa-Wise| Charleston Southern University | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CSU | RU | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Radford, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 3,545 | 7,531 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #915 | #449 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuniv.edu | radford.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | RU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,380 | $8,401 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,380 | $20,853 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,590 | $11,973 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,347 | $18,282 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,411 | $8,968 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
CSU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,072 | 11,072 | ||
| Admitted | 4,620 | 10,036 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.1% | 90.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.7% | 11% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 950/1160 | 950/1170 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
CSU | RU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | RU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 38% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,800 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 50% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $237 |
Diversity |
CSU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 26% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
CSU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 24% | 11% | ||
Campus |
CSU | RU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Radford University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (7,531 students vs. 3,545 students)
CSU vs. RU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or RU?
- Charleston Southern University is 261.6% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($30,380.00 vs. $8,401.00)
- Out of state tuition is 45.7% higher at CSU than Radford University ($30,380.00 vs. $20,853.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than CSU ($18,282 vs. $21,347)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charleston Southern University are 3.3% lower than costs at Radford University ($11,590 vs. $11,973)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Charleston Southern University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 149.9% larger than aid received Radford University ($22,411 vs. $8,968)
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 RU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at CSU (3.24)
- RU has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than CSU (76.1%)
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 RU is higher than Charleston Southern University (56% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from Radford University earn on average $7,600 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $39,800)
- Radford University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $27,000)
- RU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($237 vs. $279)
- More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/