Central vs. RU

Should I go to University of Central Missouri or Radford University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central or RU 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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University of Central Missouri vs. Radford University comparison
University of Central Missouri Radford University College 3 College 4
University of Central Missouri Radford University
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Overview

 Central RU
Location Warrensburg, MO Radford, VA
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 11,637 7,718
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #708 #566
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucmo.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central RU
Tuition (In State) $8,040 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $16,080 $20,246
Room & Board $9,699 $10,567
Avg Net Price $15,117 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $6,517 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

 Central RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,993 11,442
Admitted 3,562 10,680
Acceptance Rate 71.3% 93.3%
Enrolled % 28.9% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 19/23
SAT Range 960/1160
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

Academics

 Central RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

 Central RU
Graduation Rate 50% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,441 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $237

Diversity

 Central RU
% Men 46% 33%
% Women 54% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 71%
% Black 11% 13%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Central RU
% In-State 88% 89%
% Out-of-State 11% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Central Missouri is larger than than RU based on total student enrollment (11,637 students vs. 7,718 students)

Central vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central or RU?

  • Radford University is 1.4% more expensive to attend than Central for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $8,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.9% higher at RU than University of Central Missouri ($20,246.00 vs. $16,080.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Missouri than RU ($15,117 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Missouri are 8.9% lower than costs at Radford University ($9,699 vs. $10,567)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Missouri than Radford University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 49.3% larger than aid received University of Central Missouri ($9,733 vs. $6,517)

Central vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at RU (3.31)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than Central (71.3%)

Central vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central or RU? 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 RU and Central.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than University of Central Missouri (56% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $5,900 more per year than Central graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $41,500)
  • University of Central Missouri students graduate with a $559 lower median federal student loan debt than RU graduates. ($22,441 vs. $23,000)
  • Central graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than RU graduates. ($232 vs. $237)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 59%)

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