RADFORD, Va. – Over the past few years, Radford University has struggled to get new students on campus, but this year, thanks to some new programs, that all has changed.
“I think folks are seeing that we are the most affordable option in Virginia and specifically in southwest Virginia,” said Dannette Gomez Beane, vice president for enrollment management and strategic communications at Radford University.
Radford University has brought in more new students to campus this year than any other year before.
Last year, the university launched its Tuition Promise program, meaning in-state undergraduates whose households make under $100,000 can earn their degree for free.
Beane said the promise was a driving factor for the increase in students.
“The goal of the Radford tuition promise was not only to make the education at Radford affordable, but to maximize our state support, so a lot of this funding came from our state,” said Beane. “We want to give that support directly into the hands of Virginia families.”
This year, there are over 7,700 students on Radford’s campus; numbers they have not seen since 2019.
I talked to one student who is a freshman this year and he said the tuition promise was a big reason he decided to come to Radford.
“Honestly, it helped me greatly,” said Timothy Damankah. “It really put it on the board of major colleges for me to consider.”
I also talked to a master’s student who got her bachelor’s degree at the university and teaches a freshman class. She said many of her students are part of the Tuition Promise.
“I had a lot of kids who were in between this school and a bunch others so it is very exciting that this could be a deciding factor for students,” said Carly Riggs.
The Tuition Promise has already been approved for the 2025 academic school year.
Leaders with the school said it has been exciting to see all of the new faces walking around campus.
Radford University has recorded freshmen enrollment up 28%, and new transfer students up 39%.