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Old Dominion Longwood University JMU VSU Virginia Tech VCU Mason University of Lynchburg UVa-Wise Liberty University CNU Mary Washington College| Northern State University | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NSU | RU | ||
| Location | Aberdeen, SD | Radford, VA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 3,344 | 7,718 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #820 | #566 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northern.edu | radford.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NSU | RU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,616 | $8,156 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $10,718 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,150 | $10,567 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,264 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,715 | $9,733 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 96% |
Admission |
NSU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,322 | 11,442 | ||
| Admitted | 1,033 | 10,680 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.1% | 93.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.9% | 11.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 19/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 800/1150 | 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 |
NSU | RU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
NSU | RU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,399 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $252 | $237 |
Diversity |
NSU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
NSU | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 69% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 30% | 11% | ||
Campus |
NSU | 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
- Radford University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 3,344 students)
NSU vs. RU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NSU or RU?
- Radford University is 7.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is 88.9% higher at RU than Northern State University ($20,246.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than NSU ($17,105 vs. $17,264)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 15.5% lower than costs at Radford University ($9,150 vs. $10,567)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Northern State University (96% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 70.3% larger than aid received Northern State University ($9,733 vs. $5,715)
NSU vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NSU or RU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RU or NSU .
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at RU (3.31)
- RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than NSU (78.1%)
NSU vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NSU 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 NSU.
- The graduation rate at RU is higher than Northern State University (56% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Radford University earn on average $10,000 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $37,400)
- Radford University students graduate with a $1,399 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $24,399)
- RU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($237 vs. $252)
- More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/