Middle Tennessee State University vs. RU

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

Middle Tennessee State University RU
Location Murfreesboro, TN Radford, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 20,183 7,531
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #666 #449
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtsu.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Middle Tennessee State University RU
Tuition (In State) $7,536 $8,401
Tuition (Out of State) $27,072 $20,853
Room & Board $11,704 $11,973
Avg Net Price $12,700 $18,282
Avg Grant Aid $9,942 $8,968
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 99%

Admission

Middle Tennessee State University RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,763 11,072
Admitted 10,039 10,036
Acceptance Rate 68% 90.6%
Enrolled % 31.1% 11%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 19/26
SAT Range 1000/1230 950/1170
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Middle Tennessee State University RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Middle Tennessee State University RU
Graduation Rate 45% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,300 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,758 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $224 $237

Diversity

Middle Tennessee State University RU
% Men 5% 5%
% Women 8% 19%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 71%
% Black 22% 13%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Middle Tennessee State University RU
% In-State 89% 88%
% Out-of-State 9% 11%

Campus

Middle Tennessee State University RU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Middle Tennessee State University is larger than than RU based on total student enrollment (20,183 students vs. 7,531 students)

Middle Tennessee State University vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Middle Tennessee State University or RU?

  • Radford University is 11.5% more expensive to attend than Middle Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($8,401.00 vs. $7,536.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.8% higher at Middle Tennessee State University than Radford University ($27,072.00 vs. $20,853.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Middle Tennessee State University than RU ($12,700 vs. $18,282)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Middle Tennessee State University are 2.3% lower than costs at Radford University ($11,704 vs. $11,973)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Middle Tennessee State University (99% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Middle Tennessee State University students is 10.9% larger than aid received Radford University ($9,942 vs. $8,968)

Middle Tennessee State University vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Middle Tennessee State University students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at RU (3.31)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than Middle Tennessee State University (68%)

Middle Tennessee State University vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Middle Tennessee State University 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 Middle Tennessee State University.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Middle Tennessee State University (56% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $5,100 more per year than Middle Tennessee State University graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $42,300)
  • Middle Tennessee State University students graduate with a $1,242 lower median federal student loan debt than RU graduates. ($21,758 vs. $23,000)
  • Middle Tennessee State University graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than RU graduates. ($224 vs. $237)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Middle Tennessee State University 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/