In a decision approved by the Radford University Board of Visitors, the university
has announced a tuition rebate for undergraduate in-state students for the 2024-2025
academic year, effectively reversing the 1.5% tuition increase approved earlier this
year.
"Maintaining affordable access to a best-in-class education and high-quality Radford
experience is our top priority," said Tyler Lester, a Board of Visitors member and
chair of the Business Affairs and Audit Committee. "This vote was made possible through
a combination of strategic budgeting by the university and significant investments
in state support approved by the Governor and General Assembly. The tuition rebate
is another example of Radford University leading the way and demonstrates our commitment
to putting students and families first while being efficient and effective stewards
of our resources."
This rebate underscores Radford University's dedication to ensuring education remains
accessible to everyone. It aligns with the university's mission to support current
and future students amidst economic challenges and reflects a collaborative effort
with Virginia lawmakers to invest in higher education.
"This rebate shows how we're continuing to keep Radford one of the most affordable
universities in Virginia while still providing top-notch academic programs and student
experiences," said President Bret Danilowicz. "The strong support we receive from
the Commonwealth helps us balance these priorities and stay financially sound for
the future."
On March 22, 2024, the Radford University Board of Visitors initially voted to increase
tuition for the 2024-25 academic year by 1.5% for all undergraduate traditional programs,
with a commitment to reevaluate the university’s financial outlook after Virginia’s
state budget was finalized. Following this evaluation and recognizing the additional
investment from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Business Affairs and Audit Committee
recommended the rebate.
The rebate is applicable to undergraduate in-state students enrolled in the traditional
undergraduate program, excluding differential programs. Undergraduate students qualifying
for the rebate will receive it as a financial aid award posted to their account for
the spring 2025 semester. For students who are scheduled to graduate in fall 2024,
the payment will be applied to their account this September. Other tuition increases
for differential or graduate programs remain as announced in March.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Radford University offered the fourth-most affordable
four-year undergraduate total costs for in-state students among Virginia public institutions,
averaging $23,850. This figure includes tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees.
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 enrolled
in in-person programs whose Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $100,000 and who have a
Student Aid Index (SAI) of less than $15,000, as determined by the FAFSA.
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.
