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Radford University

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Radford, Virginia 24142

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeRuralPublic

Known for health sciences — excellent value

Radford University is a public institution in Radford with particular strength in health sciences and business. With an average SAT of 1061, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 5.6K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

50% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $53,739 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $16,640.

Established
1910
Mascot
The Highlander
Type
Public university
Conference
Big South Conference
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

91%Acceptance
1061SAT Avg
5,609Students
12:1Student:Faculty
50%Grad Rate
$53,739Earnings 10yr
$16,640Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Radford University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate90.6%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1061

Reading & WritingMid: 515
490610
MathMid: 535
460560

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 21
1926

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

90.6%

Trend

SAT Avg

1061

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$12,286
Tuition (out-of-state)$25,185
Room & Board$11,973
Books & Supplies$1,260
Total Cost of Attendance$26,681
Average Net Price$16,640
Median Debt at Graduation$24,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$254

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$11,289
$30–48K$11,883
$48–75K$14,533
$75–110K$20,204
$110K+$22,537

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

44.9%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$17,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

37

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

8

Burglary

2

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

3

Motor Vehicle Theft

4

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

11

Drug Arrests

8

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (101)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

73%

Negative
  • 73% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
5,609
Gender Split
65% / 35%
Women / Men
First Generation
31%
Pell Grant Recipients
35%

Race & Ethnicity

White 66%
Black 14%
Hispanic 8%
Asian 2%
Two+ 5%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate49.6%
Freshman Retention72.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$44,830
10 Years$53,739

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#29
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#465
1
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
2
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#87
1
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Highlanders

BasketballTennis championshipRugby club

History & Fun Facts

  • History The State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Radford was founded in Radford as a women's college in 1910.
  • In 1924, the school was renamed the State Teachers College at Radford, with the primary intent of training teachers in the Appalachian region.
  • The merger was dissolved in 1964, and Radford College became coeducational in 1972.
  • Following a period of sustained and significant growth, Radford College was granted university status in 1979.
  • In 2008, the Virginia General Assembly authorized three doctoral programs at Radford University, and the first doctoral degrees were awarded in 2011.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

RDU Raleigh-Durham131 mi
CLT Charlotte135 mi
RIC Richmond179 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA619 mi · ~17h 53m drive
New York, NY430 mi · ~12h 25m drive
Hartford, CT528 mi · ~15h 15m drive
Providence, RI585 mi · ~16h 54m drive
Albany, NY524 mi · ~15h 8m drive
Syracuse, NY470 mi · ~13h 35m drive
Rochester, NY444 mi · ~12h 50m drive
Buffalo, NY407 mi · ~11h 45m drive
Philadelphia, PA350 mi · ~10h 7m drive
Pittsburgh, PA230 mi · ~6h 39m drive
Harrisburg, PA293 mi · ~8h 28m drive
Newark, NJ423 mi · ~12h 13m drive
Washington, DC227 mi · ~6h 33m drive
Baltimore, MD260 mi · ~7h 31m drive
Atlanta, GA318 mi · ~9h 11m drive
Charlotte, NC133 mi · ~3h 51m drive
Raleigh, NC142 mi · ~4h 6m drive
Miami, FL786 mi · ~22h 42m drive
Orlando, FL596 mi · ~17h 13m drive
Tampa, FL644 mi · ~18h 36m drive
Nashville, TN352 mi · ~10h 10m drive
New Orleans, LA739 mi · ~21h 21m drive
Richmond, VA173 mi · ~5h drive
Chicago, IL499 mi · ~14h 25m drive
Detroit, MI383 mi · ~11h 4m drive
Minneapolis, MN854 mi · ~24h 40m drive
St. Louis, MO536 mi · ~15h 29m drive
Kansas City, MO774 mi · ~22h 22m drive
Indianapolis, IN354 mi · ~10h 14m drive
Columbus, OH236 mi · ~6h 49m drive
Cleveland, OH308 mi · ~8h 54m drive
Milwaukee, WI563 mi · ~16h 16m drive
Dallas, TX967 mi · ~27h 56m drive
Houston, TX993 mi · ~28h 41m drive
Austin, TX1094 mi · ~31h 36m drive
San Antonio, TX1163 mi · ~33h 36m drive
Los Angeles, CA2115 mi · ~61h 6m drive
San Francisco, CA2277 mi · ~65h 47m drive
San Diego, CA2083 mi · ~60h 11m drive
Seattle, WA2221 mi · ~64h 10m drive
Portland, OR2234 mi · ~64h 32m drive
Denver, CO1331 mi · ~38h 27m drive
Phoenix, AZ1788 mi · ~51h 39m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1693 mi · ~48h 55m drive
Honolulu, HI4664 mi · ~134h 44m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Raleigh-Durham (RDU)131 miles
Rental car
197 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
262 min$157-262
Charlotte (CLT)135 miles
Rental car
203 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
270 min$162-270

Deadline Calendar

Radford University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Radford University — v2 Preview — TourStack