Radford University Shares Preliminary Fall Enrollment

by Becky Brackin

Radford, VA (09/19/2022) — As of Sept. 5, total enrollment for degree-seeking students was 7,199, a 6.7% decrease from last year's enrollment of 7,714. A total of 1,224 new freshman students enrolled at Radford for the fall semester, and 2,344 new students overall including transfer and graduate students. The entering freshman class set a new record this fall with a high school GPA of 3.4 with 31% of the class reporting a GPA of more than 3.7. Further, the honors college set a new record enrollment, representing 51% growth in two years.

"Radford has so many strengths we can build upon," said Radford University President Bret Danilowicz. "One of those is that within six months of graduation 79% of our students are employed, in graduate school, or in the military. As well, we continue to receive accolades that recognize our academic programs and our contribution to social mobility, meaning graduates are elevated to higher economic levels upon graduation."

During September, Radford University received two national rankings and a state ranking. U.S. News & World Report recognized Radford University among the top National Universities, a category which ranks schools that offer a range of doctoral programs in additional to undergraduate majors and master's programs. The university was also named in Washington Monthly's Best Bang for your Buck -National University rankings. In addition, the School of Nursing was named one of the 10 best in Virginia by nurse.org.

"We are focusing on student support from enrollment to commencement to careers," said Craig Cornell, Vice President for Enrollment Management. "Students can now access these services through the Highlander Success Center, a physical and virtual one-stop shop for assistance. We also continue to pursue on-trend academic programs that support high demand careers, such as cybersecurity. Students are the heart of the story here at Radford."

Radford continues to have a strong reputation for feeling like a private university at a public university cost, with its high engagement among faculty and students, the legacy of connecting graduates to employment, and forward-thinking learning environments for its students. The Vinod Chachra IMPACT Lab, which offers innovative online, competency-based education (CBE) in high demand areas has increased its strategic partners and program offerings. As the lab transitions from one of its most successful grant programs, it has strategically diversified the mix of credit and non-credit CBE offerings to better address the critical workforce needs and provide more flexibility for learners in the future. The active engagement of alumni and donors is also key to student success.

"We absolutely must recognize donor support through scholarships and facilities is vital to Radford's position as a great value for students," Danilowicz said. "I can't say enough about the generosity and dedication of our donors. As well, Radford alumni are highly successful and deeply connected to the university. Students' access to unique programs such as the Student Managed Investment Portfolio Organization (SMIPO) or the Law Society is largely due to passionate donors, alumni and faculty. Their continued dedication along with the strong pathways to successful careers for our students make Radford a compelling choice for higher education."

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