Tarleton vs. RU

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

Tarleton RU
Location Stephenville, TX Radford, VA
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 14,092 7,718
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #871 #566
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website tarleton.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Tarleton RU
Tuition (In State) $4,416 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $14,208 $20,246
Room & Board $10,328 $10,567
Avg Net Price $13,755 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $8,463 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 79% 96%

Admission

Tarleton RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,788 11,442
Admitted 5,039 10,680
Acceptance Rate 87.1% 93.3%
Enrolled % 48.6% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/23
SAT Range 950/1150 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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Tarleton RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (18%)
  • Agriculture (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Tarleton RU
Graduation Rate 39% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,500 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $204 $237

Diversity

Tarleton RU
% Men 36% 33%
% Women 64% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 71%
% Black 8% 13%
% Hispanic 18% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Tarleton RU
% In-State 97% 89%
% Out-of-State 3% 11%

Campus

Tarleton RU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Tarleton State University is larger than than RU based on total student enrollment (14,092 students vs. 7,718 students)

Tarleton vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tarleton or RU?

  • Radford University is 84.7% more expensive to attend than Tarleton for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $4,416.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.5% higher at RU than Tarleton State University ($20,246.00 vs. $14,208.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tarleton State University than RU ($13,755 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tarleton State University are 2.3% lower than costs at Radford University ($10,328 vs. $10,567)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Tarleton State University (96% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 15% larger than aid received Tarleton State University ($9,733 vs. $8,463)

Tarleton vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman RU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Tarleton (3.21)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than Tarleton (87.1%)

Tarleton vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Tarleton 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 Tarleton.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Tarleton State University (56% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $1,900 more per year than Tarleton graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $45,500)
  • Tarleton State University students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than RU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $23,000)
  • Tarleton graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than RU graduates. ($204 vs. $237)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tarleton students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 56%)

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