Radford University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Radford, Virginia. It enrolls 6,038 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes36
Value79
Affordability69
Selectivity21
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89.5%, Radford University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
940 – 1160
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Radford University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
15.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Radford University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,578 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,578
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
51%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$12,548
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$25,633
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,504
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,733
Books & Supplies
$1,260
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,836
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,405
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,965
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,724
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,069
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,092
Over $110,000
$23,533
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,97925%percentile
$24,000Medianpercentile
$26,29675%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $5,000
No Pell $15,000
↓ $9,000
Dependent students $17,000
↓ $7,000
Independent students $20,889
↓ $3,111
Female students $18,250
↓ $5,750
Male students $16,000
↓ $8,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($24,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at Radford University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Radford University earn a median of $53,739 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,739
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$45,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,600, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Radford University is home to 6,038 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
6,038
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 64.7%3,905
Black 13.7%824
Hispanic 10.7%644
Other 5.8%351
Asian 1.7%101
International 1.0%60
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Radford University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeRadford, Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential3,229 beds on campus
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Radford University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
79 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Radford University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$18,141
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$67M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$85,355
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
433 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
135
31%
$100,329
Associate Professors
103
24%
$85,727
Assistant Professors
121
28%
$79,644
Instructors
74
17%
$66,855
Pros & Cons of Radford University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Radford University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Radford University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Radford University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Radford University.
Is Radford University hard to get into?
Radford University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Radford University?
Radford University has an acceptance rate of 89.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Radford University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Radford University scored between 940 and 1160 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Radford University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Radford University scored between 19 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Radford University cost?
The average net price after aid at Radford University is $14,578 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Radford University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,739 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,578 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Radford University known for?
Radford University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Radford University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Radford University are $53,739, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Radford University accredited?
Yes. Radford University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Radford University?
Radford University enrolls 6,038 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Radford University?
Radford University graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Radford University a public or private college?
Radford University is a Public institution.
Where is Radford University located?
Radford University is located in Radford, Virginia.
What programs does Radford University offer?
Radford University offers 79 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Radford University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Radford University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Virginia
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