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Old Dominion Longwood University JMU VSU Virginia Tech University of Lynchburg VCU Mason Roanoke College UVa-Wise Marymount University Liberty University| Radford University | Shenandoah University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
RU | SU | ||
| Location | Radford, VA | Winchester, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,718 | 4,260 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #566 | #537 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | radford.edu | su.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
RU | SU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,156 | $33,790 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,246 | $33,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,567 | $11,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,105 | $26,143 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,733 | $23,467 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 100% |
Admission |
RU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,442 | 2,296 | ||
| Admitted | 10,680 | 1,845 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 93.3% | 80.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.5% | 25.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/23 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1160 | 1010/1230 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
RU | SU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
RU | SU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,400 | $48,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $258 |
Diversity |
RU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 13% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 13% |
Students |
RU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 89% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 11% | 48% | ||
Campus |
RU | SU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Radford University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 4,260 students)
RU vs. SU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, RU or SU?
- Shenandoah University is 314.3% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $8,156.00)
- Out of state tuition is 66.9% higher at SU than Radford University ($33,790.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than SU ($17,105 vs. $26,143)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 6.3% lower than costs at Shenandoah University ($10,567 vs. $11,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Radford University (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 141.1% larger than aid received Radford University ($23,467 vs. $9,733)
RU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, RU or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or RU .
- Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at RU (3.31)
- RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than SU (80.4%)
RU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, RU or SU? 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 SU and RU.
- The graduation rate at RU is higher than Shenandoah University (56% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $900 more per year than RU graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $47,400)
- Radford University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,000)
- RU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($237 vs. $258)
- More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/