Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
JMU Mason Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU Longwood University William & Mary UVA WVU UMBC Howard| Radford University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
RU | VCU | ||
| Location | Radford, VA | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,718 | 28,082 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #566 | #442 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | radford.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
RU | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,156 | $12,458 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,246 | $33,726 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,567 | $12,279 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,105 | $21,294 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,733 | $12,583 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 83% |
Admission |
RU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,442 | 18,242 | ||
| Admitted | 10,680 | 16,600 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 93.3% | 91% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.5% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/23 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1160 | 1030/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 18, 2024 |
Academics |
RU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
RU | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,400 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $240 |
Diversity |
RU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 13% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 6% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
RU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 89% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 11% | 6% | ||
Campus |
RU | VCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than RU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 7,718 students)
RU vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, RU or VCU?
- Virginia Commonwealth University is 52.7% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($12,458.00 vs. $8,156.00)
- Out of state tuition is 66.6% higher at VCU than Radford University ($33,726.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than VCU ($17,105 vs. $21,294)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 16.2% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($10,567 vs. $12,279)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Virginia Commonwealth University (96% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 29.3% larger than aid received Radford University ($12,583 vs. $9,733)
RU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, RU or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or RU .
- Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at RU (3.31)
- RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than VCU (91%)
RU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, RU or VCU? 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 VCU and RU.
- The graduation rate at RU is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (56% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $100 more per year than RU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $47,400)
- Radford University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $23,250)
- RU graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($237 vs. $240)
- More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/