Coastal Carolina vs. RU

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC with Radford University in Radford, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than RU based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 7,812 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, SC (Small City setting); Radford University is in Radford, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Radford University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Coastal Carolina University 17:1; Radford University 14:1.

Coastal Carolina vs. RU Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Coastal Carolina University than RU ($14,379 vs. $16,749).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 2.9% lower than at Radford University ($12,146 vs. $12,504).
• Radford University is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $908 more per year; $12,548.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.6% higher at Coastal Carolina than at Radford University (about $3,995 more per year; $29,628.00 vs. $25,633.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Coastal Carolina University as at Radford University (94% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 17.7% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($11,870 vs. $10,087).

Coastal Carolina vs. RU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastal Carolina 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 Coastal Carolina.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Coastal Carolina University (1140) is 90 points higher than at RU (1050).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at RU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220; Radford University 940/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Coastal Carolina University 21/26; Radford University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Coastal Carolina - Test optional; RU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at RU (3.31).
• RU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.9% at Coastal Carolina vs. 14.4% at RU.

Coastal Carolina vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastal Carolina 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).

• Radford University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Coastal Carolina University's (46%).
• Graduates from Radford University earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Coastal Carolina graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Radford University graduates have a $1,930 lower median loan debt than Coastal Carolina graduates ($23,000 vs. $24,930).
• Among borrowers, RU graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Coastal Carolina graduates ($237 vs. $257).
• More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 54%)

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.