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Is Radford University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Radford, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Radford sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $53,739 helps, but median debt of $24,000 plus yearly net price of $14,578 creates a tighter path. For context, Radford's net price runs about 39% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$18,282
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $5,128 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $21,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$14,578
Median earnings 10 years out
$53,739
Median debt at graduation
$24,000
Graduation rate
49%
At Radford, a typical graduate carries about $24,000 in student debt and earns roughly $53,739 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $273 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Radford is a public four year school in Radford, VA. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Old Dominion
Norfolk, VA
Worth-It Score: 62/100
Median net price: $14,638
Public 4-year
Norfolk State
Norfolk, VA
Worth-It Score: 50/100
Median net price: $15,282
Public 4-year
Virginia State
Petersburg, VA
Worth-It Score: 51/100
Median net price: $15,840
Public 4-year
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA
Worth-It Score: 85/100
Median net price: $17,113
Public 4-year
George Mason
Fairfax, VA
Worth-It Score: 79/100
Median net price: $17,915
Common questions about Radford
The median net price at Radford is $14,578 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Virginia? See the most affordable public universities in Virginia →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →