RU vs. SU

Should I go to Radford University or Shenandoah University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RU or SU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Radford University vs. Shenandoah University comparison
Radford University Shenandoah University College 3 College 4
Radford University Shenandoah University
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Overview

RU SU
Location Radford, VA Winchester, VA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 7,718 4,260
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #566 #537
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website radford.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

RU SU
Tuition (In State) $8,156 $33,790
Tuition (Out of State) $20,246 $33,790
Room & Board $10,567 $11,230
Avg Net Price $17,105 $26,143
Avg Grant Aid $9,733 $23,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

RU SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,442 2,296
Admitted 10,680 1,845
Acceptance Rate 93.3% 80.4%
Enrolled % 11.5% 25.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/23 19/26
SAT Range 960/1160 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

RU SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

RU SU
Graduation Rate 56% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $258

Diversity

RU SU
% Men 33% 32%
% Women 67% 68%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 59%
% Black 13% 11%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 13%

Students

RU SU
% In-State 89% 52%
% Out-of-State 11% 48%

Campus

RU SU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Radford University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 4,260 students)

RU vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RU or SU?

  • Shenandoah University is 314.3% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $8,156.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 66.9% higher at SU than Radford University ($33,790.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than SU ($17,105 vs. $26,143)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 6.3% lower than costs at Shenandoah University ($10,567 vs. $11,230)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Radford University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 141.1% larger than aid received Radford University ($23,467 vs. $9,733)

RU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RU or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or RU .

  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at RU (3.31)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than SU (80.4%)

RU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RU or SU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SU and RU.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Shenandoah University (56% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $900 more per year than RU graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $47,400)
  • Radford University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,000)
  • RU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($237 vs. $258)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/