Radford University
Radford, Virginia · Public · 89.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 56/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Radford University, a regional public in southwestern Virginia, scores 56 (Below Average Value tier). The cost setup is reasonable: in-state tuition of $12,548, average net price of $14,578, and four-year cost of $58,312. Average earnings six years out are $37,700, ramping to a median $53,739 by year ten. Median federal debt of $24,000 produces a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 42). Earnings premium of 0.32 (sub-score 71) is the strongest component and reflects Virginia's relatively favorable labor market. Payback period of 10.6 years (sub-score 58) is workable. Three-year repayment rate of 77.3% (sub-score 62) is solid. Where the score is dragged down: completion rate of 48.7% (sub-score 36) is the persistent issue and the dominant institutional concern. The honest read: Radford is a respectable regional public whose nursing program (258 graduates, B grade) and computer science program (B grade) anchor real value, while the broader portfolio of education, criminal justice, communication, and arts programs produces tighter math. Several arts and journalism programs grade F. Students who finish in nursing, business, or STEM see solid outcomes; the institutional issue is that nearly half don't finish.
Radford University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,548/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,633/yr |
| Average net price | $14,578/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $58,312 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,739 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $254 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,038 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,548/year ($25,633/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $14,578/year, or roughly $58,312 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $8,965/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,533/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,000, which works out to about $254 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,700) and comes to 0.64, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,965 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,724 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,069 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,092 |
| $110,001+ | $23,533 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $8,965 net annually, totaling about $35,860 over four years - a genuinely affordable in-state public path. Pell aid plus Virginia state grants cover most tuition. Note: the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $8,724. Combined with strong nursing-program payoffs, this is excellent value.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $12,069 per year, about $48,276 over four years. The aid grading is reasonable through the middle brackets. Combined with strong post-graduation earnings for finishers, this is solid regional public value for working middle-class Virginia families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,001+) pay $23,533 per year, totaling $94,132 across four years. Aid grading at the top is steep - high-income families pay nearly triple what low-income families pay.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Radford University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,120 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,246 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,996 | C |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $50,057 | C |
| Psychology | $48,935 | D |
| Biology | $51,266 | D |
| Marketing | $62,981 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $53,863 | D |
| Social Work | $47,716 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $72,364 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Radford's flagship program at 258 graduates per year, with $69,662 starting earnings, $81,120 at 4 years, $26,000 in median debt, and a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio for a B grade. This program singlehandedly props up Radford's institutional ROI and is the clearest value path.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 118 graduates with $45,380 starting, $67,246 at 4 years, $23,250 in median debt, and a 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio for a C+ grade. Modest debt at SUNY-like pricing keeps the math defensible.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice produces 116 graduates - a large cohort - with $35,935 starting, $56,996 at 4 years, $25,000 in median debt, and a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio for a C grade. Virginia law enforcement and corrections wages provide moderate but stable income. Federal-track careers (FBI, ATF) lift outcomes for graduates who pursue them.
Psychology
Psychology produces 104 graduates with $32,751 starting, $48,935 at 4 years, $25,233 in median debt, and a 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio for a D grade. Like most undergraduate psychology programs, the credential serves primarily as a graduate-school pipeline. Students should plan on continued education to generate professional earnings.
Computer Science
Computer Science produces 31 graduates with $66,857 starting, $87,740 at 4 years, $26,000 in median debt, and a 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio for a B grade. Strong outcomes reflect Virginia's robust tech labor market (DC corridor adjacency, Richmond growth). Students relocating to Northern Virginia or remote-work roles see particularly strong wage trajectories.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Radford University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 89.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 6,038 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,967 |
Radford admits 89.5% of applicants. SAT mid-range Math 450-560, Reading 490-600, and ACT composite of 19-26 indicate a moderately prepared student body skewing toward the academic middle. The 48.7% completion rate is below what the academic profile predicts and reflects the university's working-class commuter and first-generation population struggling with persistence. Selectivity is not the differentiator; persistence support is the institutional gap.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radford University (this school) | 56 | $14,578 | $53,739 |
| William & Mary | 91 | $19,096 | $73,490 |
| Christopher Newport University | 64 | $23,015 | $60,509 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | 54 | $18,745 | $57,780 |
| Augusta University | 54 | $13,787 | $48,472 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment of 6,038 puts it in the mid-size regional range. The 48.7% completion rate is real and demands persistent academic engagement.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Radford University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $14,578 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $53,739 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 48.7% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $24,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Radford University: Common Questions
Is Radford University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Radford University scores 56/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,578 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $53,739 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Radford University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,578 a year, or roughly $58,312 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Radford University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,739 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,939 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Radford University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.6 years for Radford University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Radford University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,000, against average earnings of $37,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Radford University?
The six-year graduation rate is 48.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.