Gordon vs. RU

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA with Radford University in Radford, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Radford University is larger than Gordon based on total student enrollment (7,812 students vs. 3,179 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, GA (Distant Town setting); Radford University is in Radford, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Gordon State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Radford University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon State College 20:1; Radford University 14:1.

Gordon vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon or RU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gordon State College than RU ($7,807 vs. $16,749).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon State College are 16.5% lower than at Radford University ($10,444 vs. $12,504).
• Radford University is 245.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gordon (about $8,920 more per year; $12,548.00 vs. $3,628.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 134.1% higher at RU than at Gordon State College (about $14,685 more per year; $25,633.00 vs. $10,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Radford University than at Gordon State College (94% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 83.7% larger than aid received by Gordon State College students ($11,870 vs. $6,462).

Gordon vs. RU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gordon or RU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RU and Gordon.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Radford University (1050) is 40 points higher than at Gordon (1010).
• Incoming RU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 19 at Gordon).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 890/1130; Radford University 940/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 15/24; Radford University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon - Test optional; RU - Test optional.
• RU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Gordon (85.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Gordon vs. 14.4% at RU.

Gordon vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon and RU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Radford University earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Gordon graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gordon State College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than RU graduates ($17,500 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, Gordon graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RU graduates ($180 vs. $237).
• More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.