RU vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Radford University in Radford, VA with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Radford University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (7,812 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Radford University is located in Radford, VA (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Radford University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Radford University 14:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

RU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RU or VMI? 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 Radford University than VMI ($16,749 vs. $18,825).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 9.5% lower than at Radford University ($11,310 vs. $12,504).
• Virginia Military Institute is 67.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than RU (about $8,498 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $12,548.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 105.4% higher at VMI than at Radford University (about $27,005 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $25,633.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Radford University than at Virginia Military Institute (94% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 100.7% larger than aid received by Radford University students ($23,821 vs. $11,870).

RU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RU or VMI? 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 VMI and RU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 110 points higher than at RU (1050).
• Incoming VMI students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 22 at RU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Radford University 940/1160; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Radford University 19/26; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at RU (3.31).
• RU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.4% at RU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

RU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RU and VMI? 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).

• Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Radford University's (56%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $14,700 more per year than RU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Radford University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($23,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, RU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($237 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 70%)

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.