Radford vs CWU-Ellensburg
Radford University and Central Washington University, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. Radford University, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to Central Washington University's 72%. Radford's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population. Central Washington University, located in the vibrant city of Ellensburg, Washington, excels in STEM fields, with popular majors in Engineering, Computer Science, and Biology. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, ensuring students find their academic niche. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these institutions' unique strengths, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your higher education journey.
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![]() Central Washington University |
Radford University |
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Overview |
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Location | Ellensburg, Washington | Radford, Virginia |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 69.0% | 67.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 88.4% | 95.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$75
|
$50 |
SAT range | N/A | 950 - 1150 |
ACT range | N/A | 19 - 23 |
Students submitting SAT score | 25.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 3.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 10,767 | 11,291 |
Total number of admissions given out | 9,523 | 10,762 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,371 | 1,292 |
Yield rate | 14.4% | 12.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,248
Out of state:
$38,776
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In state:
$26,632
Out of state:
$38,714
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Average net price | $17,645 | $16,835 |
Tuition |
In state:
$6,656
Out of state:
$23,184
|
In state:
$7,922
Out of state:
$19,557
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,645
Meal plan:
$7,957
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Room/dormitory:
$5,549
Meal plan:
$4,487
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
80.0%
Average amount $7,378 |
88.0%
Average amount $8,695 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
41.0%
Average amount $4,834 |
65.0%
Average amount $5,344 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,197 |
12.0%
Average amount $12,531 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
9,566
Men 47.0% Women 53.0% |
6,513
Men 38.8% Women 61.2% |
Graduate students |
610
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
2,485
Men 15.7% Women 84.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 6.7% | 11.8% |
International students | 2.7% | 0.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 3,755 | 3,528 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Washington California Oregon Hawaii Arkansas | Virginia Maryland North Carolina District of Columbia Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 53.6% | 53.9% |
Dropout rate | 44.0% | 12.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | 33.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Master's Degrees)
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