Radford University
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Why Radford University Matters
Radford University is a public doctoral / professional university in Radford, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 6,038
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Radford University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 90% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 940–1160. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,578 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $53,739 ten years after enrolling — 32% above the typical college, against $24,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 79% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.65 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Radford University is an excellent choice for students looking for a supportive environment with a diverse array of academic programs. With an acceptance rate of 90%, it welcomes a wide range of applicants. Students here often dive into popular fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts, and Criminal Justice. This variety allows individuals to explore their passions while gaining practical skills for the workforce.
Looking ahead, graduates from Radford can anticipate a solid earning potential, with a median income of $53,739 after ten years in their careers. This figure is a good benchmark for understanding the return on investment in education. The affordability of attending Radford is also notable, especially considering the net price of $14,578 after aid, which makes it accessible for many students, including the 37% who receive Pell Grants.
When it comes to financial considerations, students typically graduate with a median debt of $24,000, which is manageable for many in light of their post-graduation earnings. This affordability, combined with the inclusive atmosphere of the university, means that those who thrive here often are individuals who appreciate community support and are eager to engage in a variety of learning experiences.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Radford University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Radford University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Radford University, located in Radford, Virginia, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 90% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,060. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 49%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Radford University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Radford University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $25,633 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,578 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,965 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Radford University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Radford University earn a median of $53,739, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
Where Grads Go
Top employers of Radford University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How Radford Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Radford University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Radford University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,578/year ($58,312 total). Graduates earn $53,739 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,343,565 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,285,253 (23.0× your investment). The median debt is $24,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 49% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Radford University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Radford University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $101,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Radford University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 14 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Radford University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Radford University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Radford University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Radford University, located in Radford, Virginia, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 90% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,060. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 49%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Radford University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Radford University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $25,633 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,578 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,965 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,000.
Is Radford University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Radford University earn a median of $53,739, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Radford University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Radford University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $101,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Radford University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Radford University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.65 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Radford University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Radford University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Radford University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.65 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note