Colorado Mesa vs. RU

Colorado Mesa University and Radford University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Colorado Mesa University
Radford University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Colorado Mesa (82% admitted vs 89.5%). Typical SAT 1050 vs 1050.
  • Cheaper after aid: Colorado Mesa. Average net price is $15,590 vs $16,749 at RU.
  • Graduation: Colorado Mesa 25% vs RU 56%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colorado Mesa $40,000 vs RU $47,400 (median).
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Key differences

Colorado Mesa University Radford University
Acceptance rate
Colorado Mesa more selective
Colorado Mesa82%
RU89.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
RU higher
Colorado Mesa930-1160
RU940-1160
Average net price
Colorado Mesa $1,159 less
Colorado Mesa$15,590
RU$16,749
In-state tuition
Colorado Mesa $2,621 less
Colorado Mesa$9,927
RU$12,548
Out-of-state tuition
Colorado Mesa $509 less
Colorado Mesa$25,124
RU$25,633
Graduation rate
RU +31 pts
Colorado Mesa25%
RU56%
Median earnings (10 years)
RU +$7,400
Colorado Mesa$40,000
RU$47,400

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Colorado Mesa 12,465
  • RU 10,960
  • Admitted
  • Colorado Mesa 10,225
  • RU 9,813
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colorado Mesa 82%
  • RU 89.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colorado Mesa 23.1%
  • RU 14.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colorado Mesa 1050
  • RU 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colorado Mesa 21
  • RU 22
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colorado Mesa 3.28
  • RU 3.31
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colorado Mesa B+
  • RU B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Colorado Mesa Very Easy
  • RU Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Colorado Mesa
  • RU
  • SAT range
  • Colorado Mesa 930-1160
  • RU 940-1160
  • ACT range
  • Colorado Mesa 18-24
  • RU 19-26
  • Submit test scores
  • Colorado Mesa Test optional
  • RU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Colorado Mesa
  • RU
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colorado Mesa $9,927
  • RU $12,548
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colorado Mesa $25,124
  • RU $25,633
  • Room & board
  • Colorado Mesa $12,209
  • RU $12,504
  • Average net price
  • Colorado Mesa $15,590
  • RU $16,749
  • Average grant aid
  • Colorado Mesa $8,285
  • RU $11,870
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colorado Mesa 84%
  • RU 94%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colorado Mesa 25%
  • RU 56%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colorado Mesa $40,000
  • RU $47,400
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colorado Mesa 48%
  • RU 70%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colorado Mesa $21,750
  • RU $23,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Colorado Mesa $224
  • RU $237
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colorado Mesa 18:1
  • RU 14:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colorado Mesa
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • RU
    • Business (18%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Location
  • Colorado Mesa Grand Junction, CO
  • RU Radford, VA
  • Setting
  • Colorado Mesa Small City
  • RU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Colorado Mesa 9,785
  • RU 7,812
  • Type
  • Colorado Mesa Public 4 Year
  • RU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colorado Mesa #908
  • RU #507

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO with Radford University in Radford, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Colorado Mesa University is larger than RU based on total student enrollment (9,785 students vs. 7,812 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colorado Mesa University is located in Grand Junction, CO (Small City setting); Radford University is in Radford, VA (Distant Town setting).
  • Colorado Mesa University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Radford University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado Mesa University 18:1; Radford University 14:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Mesa University are 2.4% lower than at Radford University ($12,209 vs. $12,504).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at RU than at Colorado Mesa University (about $509 more per year; $25,633 vs. $25,124).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Radford University than at Colorado Mesa University (94% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 43.3% larger than aid received by Colorado Mesa University students ($11,870 vs. $8,285).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at RU than at Colorado Mesa (22 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colorado Mesa and RU.
  • Enrolled first-year students at RU average a 3.31 high school GPA, 0.03 higher than at Colorado Mesa (3.28).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at Colorado Mesa vs. 14.4% at RU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colorado Mesa University graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than RU graduates ($21,750 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colorado Mesa graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RU graduates ($224 vs. $237).
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado Mesa students, three years after graduation (70% vs. 48%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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