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Radford University
Radford, VA 6,038 Undergrads 58.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$29,771
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,701
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,117
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$13,701
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,117Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,134Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate58.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients41.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
89.5%
SAT Avg
1,060
SAT Reading
25th: 49054075th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 45051075th: 560
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 26
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$522k
+$52k
+$35k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$473k
+$2k
-$14k
Full Cost$30k/yr
+$415k
-$55k
-$72k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-28%
Full Cost$30k/yr
Never
-67%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-26%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-62%
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Certificates
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,335
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,673
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,780
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Median Debt
$22,562
Earnings (4yr)
$68,364
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,266
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$67,246
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,725
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,805
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,932
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,171
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$87,740
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,996
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,856
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,725
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,943
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,085
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$72,364
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,838
Earnings (4yr)
$40,679
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,422
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,552
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,144
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,566
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,188
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,088
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$45,369
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,265
Earnings (4yr)
$62,981
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,785
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,057
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,891
Earnings (4yr)
$47,586
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$22,130
Earnings (4yr)
$48,743
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3899
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,901
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,567
Earnings (4yr)
$48,935
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,120
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$19,867
Earnings (4yr)
$49,727
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,716
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,122
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,863
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
PB-CertCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,260
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Security Science and Technology
PB-CertCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,875
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
PB-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,623
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Median Debt
$110,927
Earnings (4yr)
$121,569
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$404k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,608
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$49,782
Earnings (4yr)
$65,739
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Computer Software and Media Applications
MastCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,811
Earnings (4yr)
$54,836
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$33,500
Earnings (4yr)
$76,151
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$470k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,566
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,566
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
$31,293
Earnings (4yr)
$123,832
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$424k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,332
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$36,523
Earnings (4yr)
$61,332
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$21,675
Earnings (4yr)
$53,439
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$52,251
Earnings (4yr)
$54,651
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,142
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$92,431
Earnings (4yr)
$77,775
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.