Admissions

Admission to Radford is selective and based on a review of each applicant’s academic qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of the term in which they wish to attend.

The university selects those students who present the strongest qualifications in scholastic achievement, aptitude for achievement in the profession or specific field of study for which the applicant seeks training, and performance in extracurricular activities. Character and potential to contribute to the university community are important criteria as well.

Admission of Freshmen

Specifically, students are selected on the basis of: (a) their high school records (course of study, grade point average and rank in class); (b) optional submission of the Scholastic Assessment Test I (SATI) results or American College Testing (ACT) exam results; (c) an optional student essay; and (d) evidence of interest and motivation as supplied through related criteria.

To be considered for admission, an incoming freshman should complete a broad selection of course work in high school. Most successful applicants have taken: four units of English; four units in college preparatory mathematics (minimum math requirement for consideration includes the successful completion of Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II); three to four units in laboratory science, three to four units in a foreign language; and four units in social studies, including American history. Virginia residents are encouraged to complete the Advanced Studies Diploma. It is strongly recommended that pre-nursing students complete units in both biology and chemistry.

Students who, for reasons beyond their control, have not graduated from an accredited high school may be considered for admission provided they pass the High School Equivalency Test administered by the State Board of Education and earn the General Education Development Certificate (GED). Additional material may be requested by the Admissions Office.

Students of very unusual academic ability may be considered for admission after they have completed their junior year of high school. Such students must complete their junior year; take the Scholastic Assessment Test I (SATI) or the American College Testing (ACT) exam; and present documents from their high school and parents supporting early admission.

College Board Test

The Scholastic Assessment Test I (SATI) given by the College Entrance Examination Board or the American College Testing (ACT) exam is optional for all freshman applicants for admission to Radford. This test should be taken in the spring of the junior year in high school and not later than December of the senior year. Students who score 700 or higher on the writing section of the Scholastic Assessment Test I (SATI) will be exempt from ENGL 111 - Principles of College Composition (GE) . They will receive three hours of credit for this course and will begin core curriculum course work in ENGL 112 - Critical Reading and Writing in the Digital Age (WI) (GE) .

Application for Admission

A student desiring to enter Radford University should apply online at www.radford.edu or submit a Common Application via www.commonapp.org. A student will be notified of action taken on their application after all material is received. A complete application includes:

• An official application form completed and submitted electronically to Radford University Undergraduate Admissions Office.
• An official transcript of high school work completed.

Students wishing to reside within a Radford University residence hall must submit a resident contract and a resident hall and enrollment deposit. Students who are admitted and wish to commute to campus must submit an off-campus student contract and an enrollment deposit. This deposit will be credited toward university expenses for students who enroll or may be refunded if a written request for withdrawal is received in the Admissions Office by May 1. After this date, the deposit is forfeited.

Students desiring to live on campus may indicate a roommate preference. Except for individuals meeting specific conditions (see Housing and Residential Life ), all new freshmen must live on campus for a minimum of 4 semesters.

All students are required to submit a completed RU health immunization record and Disclosure of Criminal History form prior to enrollment.

Enrollment and Matriculation

Students who have (1) been admitted, (2) paid the required fees, and (3) registered for classes are considered enrolled unless the student submits an “Authorization to Cancel Registration” form through the Office of Student Success prior to the first day of classes or a University Withdrawal before the census date. A student’s matriculation term is the first term the student enrolls as an undergraduate or as a graduate student. Students must meet the minimum degree requirements in effect in their matriculation term or any term thereafter in which the student is enrolled unless they have been away for two or more consecutive semesters (see the section on readmission). Students continuously enrolled will be permitted to continue with the requirements in effect in their matriculation term whenever possible (i.e., using the same catalog); however, course offering changes may require students to complete alternative courses.

International Baccalaureate Policy

Radford University recognizes the advanced level of academic preparation demonstrated by the International Baccalaureate. Students entering Radford University with an IB Certificate will be awarded three to eight (3-8) semester hours of credit (up to 12 for Foreign Language) for each course completed at the Higher Level with a score of four through seven (4-7).

In addition to the higher level, standard level courses with scores of five (5) or higher will be considered in the awarding of credit for those students who have completed the IB diploma. Students who complete the IB Diploma have the opportunity to earn up to 30 semester credits. Credits granted for individual IB courses or completion of the IB Diploma are shown as transfer hours on the official Radford University transcript and are included in the hours completed toward a degree. IB final course scores are evaluated for transfer credits in the same manner as for college transfer credits. See the section for Transfer Students for additional information.

Advanced Placement and College Level Exam Program

Radford uses the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject exams and College Board Advanced Placement Tests to award graduation credits. The Advanced Placement Tests are given in May of the student’s junior or senior year in high school.

Radford University will allow credit for scores on the CLEP subject examinations and Advanced Placement Tests as shown in the table below. Advanced Placement and CLEP scores are evaluated for transfer credits in the same manner as for college transfer credits. See the section for Transfer Students for additional information regarding transfer credits.

Radford University will allow credit for scores on the Advanced Placement Tests as follows:

Cambridge International Examination Policy

Radford University awards academic credit for Cambridge International Examinations on selected A-level and AS-level examinations in which a grade of A, B, or C is earned. The pre-approved departmental equivalencies for qualifying examinations are listed below. This list is reviewed annually by the individual schools and departments, and each school or department may approve transfer credit for examinations that are not listed below at its discretion.  

Dual-Enrollment Credit

Students may receive credit for college courses taken to meet high school requirements. These credits may be applied toward a Radford University degree program but the dually enrolled credits are not evaluated automatically for transfer credit based upon high school transcripts. An official college transcript must be provided in order for credit to be awarded. Credits granted for dual-enrollments are considered the same as any college transfer credits. See the section for Transfer Students for additional information regarding transfer credits.

Campus Visits

Students are encouraged to schedule a visit to Radford University. The Admissions Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission counselors are available during these hours. Tours of the campus are conducted Monday through Friday and on select Saturdays. Students and guests who wish to schedule a campus visit may do so through our online reservation system found at www.radford.edu/visit.

Retention and Graduation Rates

Of the full-time, first-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students who entered in Fall 2021, 68 percent returned for Fall 2022. The six-year graduation rate for the 2016 cohort was 54%.

Application of Special Students

Special students are those students not matriculated in a degree program at Radford University. Special students may attempt up to 24 semester hours of credit in this classification. Once they have attempted 24 semester hours, they are required to meet with a representative of the Office of Admissions to receive advice and to determine the purpose of continuing in this category. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required to be admitted and continue as a Special Student.

Students meeting one of the following conditions will be considered special students and must submit a “Permission to Register” form through the Registrar’s Office. Registration opportunities for all special student populations begins after degree-seeking students have registered. Special population students may register for summer classes during the same time frame as standard degree seeking students.

Transient Student: A degree candidate student at another college may enroll in courses at Radford University without submitting official transcripts, but must provide a letter of permission from the “home” institution.

High School Student: A high school student who wishes to take a college level course may, upon written approval from the high school and permission by the Admissions Office, take a class at Radford University. Students must submit an official high school transcript.

Non-degree Student: A student who wishes to register for undergraduate courses without pursuing a degree may register as a non-degree student. Non-degree seeking students begin registration at the start of the second “Phase” of registration. A student desiring to switch to a degree candidacy status must apply through the Office of Admissions. Students desiring to switch to degree-candidacy are cautioned that hours earned while in the special non-degree student status may or may not apply to a major program, depending on the degree requirements. Students who have been in a degree-seeking status and have been  suspended from the university may not apply for readmission as a special non-degree student.

Senior Citizens: Under the terms of the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974  as amended, eligible Virginia residents over 60 years of age with a taxable income of less than $23,850 are entitled to enroll in courses offered for academic credit on a space available basis without payment of tuition and fees. Tuition, however, may be charged for courses designed exclusively for senior citizen groups.

Transfer Students

Students wishing to transfer to Radford University from an accredited college or university* should complete an online application via www.radford.edu/apply or www.commonapp.org. Transcripts from all previous colleges attended must be sent whether or not transfer credit was earned. Concealment of previous attendance at a college or university is justification for cancellation of admission. If the student has been out of school for any extended period of time, other than for school breaks, a letter of activities must be submitted with the application. In addition, if fewer than 24 semester hours have been completed, the student must submit a final high school transcript. The high school performance will be considered as part of the admission process and prospective students must meet the freshman admission guidelines. Transfer students must also send their high school transcript if they have not successfully completed a transferable college level math course.

A transfer student must have at least an overall 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average on all work attempted to be considered for admission.  Only courses passed with a grade of “C” or higher will be considered for transfer credit. Consequently, grades of “C-” or lower are not accepted. Radford University does not give transfer credit for courses taken as pass/fail. No fewer than 30 semester hours must be taken at Radford University to be eligible for graduation. As a minimum, 120 semester hours are required for graduation.

Students wishing to transfer into the Nursing Program must indicate this major preference on the application for admission. To be considered for upper division nursing, transfer students must also submit a nursing application to the School of Nursing before August 1 for spring entry and before November 15 for fall entry.

Students wishing to transfer into the Design program must indicate this major preference on the application for admission. Following acceptance into Radford University all transfer students applying for admission to the Department of Interior Design & Fashion, must submit a Transfer Student Portfolio Admissions Form and an ID & F Course Equivalency Form.

Transfer credits do not affect Radford University Grade Point Averages (GPA). Transfer credits may be used in determining eligibility or limitations for awards, scholarships, grants, financial aid, admission to academic programs, organization membership, or other uses. When transcripts are provided to agencies outside Radford University, these credits may be used for matters not controlled by Radford University, e.g., scholarships, awards, recognitions, insurance discounts, employment, internships or program eligibilities.

* Radford University will consider for transfer credit only those credits earned from a regionally accredited college or university as recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council of Higher Education (CHEA), as well as the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA/CORPA) or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), as well as military service at levels consistent with the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services.

Second Bachelor’s Degree Student (First Degree Earned from an Institution Other Than Radford University)

A student who holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution and who wishes to take undergraduate work toward a second baccalaureate degree in another major must have official transcripts of work completed from all colleges attended sent to the Admissions Office and submit an application for Undergraduate Admission via www.radford.edu/apply or www.commonapp.org. Second bachelor’s degree students must complete all requirements for the second degree. Students must complete no fewer than 30 semester hours at Radford University. Students may earn two B.S. degrees, two B.A. degrees, or a B.S. and a B.A. degree simultaneously or separately. The term “degree” refers only to official state-approved degree authorizations and not to programs offered as options under these degrees.

Second Bachelor’s Degree Student (First Degree Earned at Radford University)

A student who holds a baccalaureate degree from Radford University and who wishes to take undergraduate courses toward a second baccalaureate degree in another major must complete the readmission application via www.radford.edu/readmission. Students wishing to complete another major must complete all requirements for the second degree. Students must complete at least 30 additional credits at Radford University and must meet all requirements of the second degree and major. These hours must be beyond the minimum number of hours required for the first degree.

The GPA from the first degree is frozen and the GPA will start over for the second degree. Courses taken in the second degree cannot affect the GPA of the first degree, and a student cannot earn credit in the second degree for any course credits earned in the first degree. The number of repeats will start over for second-degree students. The student must earn 60 credits beyond the first degree to qualify for graduation with Latin honors.

Completing an Additional Major or Minor After Earning an RU Bachelor’s Degree

Students who have already earned a degree from Radford University and who are not enrolled in a graduate program may return and fulfill the requirements for another major and/or minor. These students must apply for readmission via www.radford.edu/readmission and declare the appropriate major/minor on the application form. Students who return to Radford University to complete another major or minor (not a degree) must successfully complete only the requirements for that major/minor. However, students must meet the 2.00 minimum grade point average requirement in courses in which they enroll after their return. Once a student graduates from Radford University with a bachelor’s degree, the GPA is frozen and the student’s academic record starts over.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of the Registrar of the completion of additional requirements by filling out a Declaration of Completion of Additional Major/Minor form. Once this form has been received, the Office of the Registrar Office will confirm completion and add the additional major and/or minor notation on the student’s permanent record (transcript). Students who have completed an additional major/minor are not eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony, nor will they receive a second diploma. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from another college or university are not eligible to complete only an additional major/minor at Radford University.

State Policy on Transfer

To encourage the transfer of students from the Virginia Community College System to Radford University, the State Policy on Transfer has been embraced by Radford University, effective fall 1993. A student who transfers to Radford University from a Virginia Community College will be considered to have satisfied Radford’s REAL Curriculum requirements if any of the following is met:

• the student has by the time of transfer earned an associate degree from a Virginia community college based on a baccalaureate-oriented sequence of courses (i.e., the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of Arts and Science); or
• the student is able to earn such a degree by successfully completing the remaining requirements before completing a bachelor’s degree at Radford University.

Students who do not meet any of these criteria must complete Radford’s course-specific REAL Curriculum requirements.

The transfer degrees accepted as satisfying all requirements for the REAL Curriculum at Radford University are the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and the Associate of Arts and Science. Additional REAL Curriculum information specific to transfer can be found at www.radford.edu/REAL and then select Transfer Students.

Transfer credit evaluations are performed by the Office of the Admissions. Questions concerning transfer credit may be directed to this office. Community college students completing the Transfer Module will receive credit toward completion of Radford’s REAL Curriculum requirements. Credits earned with a grade lower than “C” will not transfer to Radford University. Refer to the Radford University Transfer Guide for more detailed information concerning the State Policy on Transfer.