Liberty University vs Radford University
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | Radford University Radford, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -61% | +40% |
| 10-year net gain | $-76,476 | $26,912 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $49,988 | $54,397 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $43,356 | $45,380 |
| Average net price | $29,357 | $14,578 |
| Median debt | $24,500 | $24,000 |
| Break-even | 25.3 yrs | 7.1 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 65% | 49% |
| Admission rate | 99% | 90% |
Liberty University
Poor return
$-76,476 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Radford University
Break-even
+$26,912 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.