Radford again recognized among nation's "Best Bang for the Buck" universities – is top Virginia institution in ranking

Radford University has been recognized as a "Best Bang for the Buck" institution by Washington Monthly magazine for the second consecutive year.

RU, recognized for providing an education of high value, was the only Virginia university to make the top 100 in the “All Schools” category which is published by the magazine in its September-October edition. In the all-important “Best Bang for the Buck” ranking among master’s universities, RU ranked No. 35, and is the highest-ranked master’s university from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"This ranking again demonstrates that RU is an excellent institution, providing one of the best values in the nation. It is a statement validating the dedication and hard work of our faculty and staff who have committed themselves to our students,” said President Penelope W. Kyle. “The recognition afforded by this ranking helps prospective students and their families make informed decisions about their educational opportunities and which university is best suited for them."

"Last year we created a whole new Best Bang for the Buck ranking, highlighting 349 colleges that score well on measures of access, affordability, and student outcomes, wrote Robert Kelchen for Washington Monthly. Kelchen is an assistant professor of higher education in the Department of Education Leadership, Management and Policy at Seton Hall University. This year, Washington Monthly evaluated 1,540 colleges and universities across the United States in determining its rankings and only 386 made the cut as Best Bang for the Buck schools.

According to Washington Monthly, its specific combination of ranking criteria - access, affordability, and student outcomes over a three-year period - has produced a list that spotlights public-minded schools in terms of social mobility, research and public service.