Match #1
Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA
Profile closeness83/100
Admit rate89%
- 5,074 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 5,074 students, close to 6,038
- Acceptance rate 89%, close to 90%
The colleges most similar to Radford University are Virginia State University, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University. Radford University admits 90% of applicants and has an average net price of $13,701 a year; 2 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 3 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Radford University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Radford University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA
Profile closeness82/100
Admit rate88%
- 5,392 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 5,392 students, close to 6,038
- Acceptance rate 88%, close to 90%
Match #3
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate90%
- 17,514 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 43%, close to 48%
- Acceptance rate 90%, close to 90%
Match #4
Longwood University
Farmville, VA
Profile closeness69/100
Admit rate90%
- 3,015 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Acceptance rate 90%, close to 90%
- Same control type (public)
Match #5
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Profile closeness61/100
Admit rate87%
- 27,752 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Acceptance rate 87%, close to 90%
- Average net price $14,697, close to $13,701
Match #6
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA
Profile closeness59/100
Admit rate86%
- 4,365 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 4,365 students, close to 6,038
- Acceptance rate 86%, close to 90%
Match #7
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA
Profile closeness58/100
Admit rate80%
- 3,566 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Acceptance rate 80%, close to 90%
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Profile closeness55/100
Admit rate93%
- 20,753 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Acceptance rate 93%, close to 90%
- Same control type (public)
Match #9
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA
Profile closeness48/100
Admit rate71%
- 1,527 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Average net price $15,585, close to $13,701
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA
Profile closeness45/100
Admit rate34%
- 7,055 students
- Public
- Suburb: Small
- Enrollment 7,055 students, close to 6,038
- Same control type (public)
Questions about Radford University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Radford University?
The closest matches to Radford University are Virginia State University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Longwood University, and George Mason University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Radford University hard to get into?
Radford University admitted 90% of its 11,291 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 3 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Radford University alternatives cost less?
2 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Radford University ($13,701 a year), including Norfolk State University ($12,180) and Old Dominion University ($12,913). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
