GWU vs. RU

Should I go to Gardner Webb University or Radford University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GWU 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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Gardner Webb University vs. Radford University comparison
Gardner Webb University Radford University College 3 College 4
Gardner Webb University Radford University
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Overview

GWU RU
Location Boiling Springs, NC Radford, VA
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 3,144 7,718
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #639 #566
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gardner-webb.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GWU RU
Tuition (In State) $31,220 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $31,220 $20,246
Room & Board $10,770 $10,567
Avg Net Price $22,339 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $24,130 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

GWU RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,728 11,442
Admitted 4,293 10,680
Acceptance Rate 74.9% 93.3%
Enrolled % 9.4% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.31
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/25 19/23
SAT Range 1020/1210 960/1160
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

GWU RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

GWU RU
Graduation Rate 55% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,500 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,969 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $237

Diversity

GWU RU
% Men 32% 33%
% Women 68% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 71%
% Black 17% 13%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

GWU RU
% In-State 54% 89%
% Out-of-State 41% 11%

Campus

GWU 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 GWU based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 3,144 students)

GWU vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GWU or RU?

  • Gardner Webb University is 282.8% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($31,220.00 vs. $8,156.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.2% higher at GWU than Radford University ($31,220.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than GWU ($17,105 vs. $22,339)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 1.9% lower than costs at Gardner Webb University ($10,567 vs. $10,770)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University than Radford University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 147.9% larger than aid received Radford University ($24,130 vs. $9,733)

GWU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at RU (3.31)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than GWU (74.9%)

GWU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GWU 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 GWU.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Gardner Webb University (56% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $6,900 more per year than GWU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $40,500)
  • Radford University students graduate with a $1,969 lower median federal student loan debt than GWU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $24,969)
  • RU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than GWU graduates. ($237 vs. $258)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GWU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 52%)

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