At the Radford University Board of Visitors meetings held June 6-7, 2024, university
officials reported strong indicators of enrollment growth for the upcoming 2024-25
academic year.
In addition to significant increases in deposits from new freshmen and transfer students
and a surge in graduate applications, the university reported notable rises in deposits
from students aged 25 and older as well as military-affiliated students, including
veterans, active military and reserve members, spouses and military dependents. The
steady growth of Pell-eligible and first-generation students further demonstrates
the university's commitment to serving the higher education needs of all Virginians.
"Radford University is a distinctive institution that provides transformative learning
experiences to our students at an affordable price," said Radford University President
Bret Danilowicz. "This commitment is resonating with a wide variety of individuals
and families throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond."
Highlights of the university's strong performance include a 27% increase in new freshman
deposits (up from 1,199 in 2023-24 to 1,552 in 2024-25) with a strong average high
school GPA of 3.41; a 52% increase in new transfer deposits (up from 533 in 2023-24
to 812 in 2024-25); and a 15% increase in graduate student applications (up from 1,560
in 2023-24 to 1,798 in 2024-25).
Meanwhile, military-affiliated student deposits jumped by 101% over 2023-24, and the
university received more than triple the deposits from students aged 25 and older.
This incoming class will also feature more Pell-eligible and first-generation students
than last year's entering class, thanks to the continued appeal of the Radford Tuition
Promise, which the board voted to continue offering to qualified applicants for the
2025-26 academic year.
Over the past year, Radford has significantly enhanced its commitment to providing
affordable education to Virginians with the introduction of the Radford Tuition Promise,
effective for current and prospective students in 2024-25. The Radford Tuition Promise
guarantees full coverage of tuition costs for in-state undergraduate students (in-person)
whose Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $100,000 or less.
"We have students enrolling this fall from various backgrounds who are utilizing the
Radford Tuition Promise to realize their dream of becoming a college graduate and
pursuing rewarding careers," said Dannette Gomez Beane, vice president of Enrollment
Management and Strategic Communications.
Additionally, Radford University automatically considers both new freshmen and transfer
students for merit-based scholarships, such as the Highlander Distinction Program
and the Transfer Excellence Scholarship. Along with direct institutional support,
the Radford University Foundation awards over 600 unique scholarships totaling over
$3 million annually.