I’ll add…according to US News College Site…
ODU - 25% live on campus
GMU - 23% live on campus
UMW - 56% live on campus
CNU - 79% live on campus
Keep in mind though that 23-25% of GMU’s/ODU’s very large student population is greater than 56% of UMW’s much smaller student population.
…and because I’m on a roll with my research…
Each school has a Carnegie Classification:
https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/classification_descriptions/size_setting.php
Primarily nonresidential = Fewer than 25 % of degree-seeking undergraduates live on campus** and/or fewer than 50 % attend full time (includes exclusively distance education institutions).
Primarily residential = 25-49 % of degree-seeking undergraduates live on campus** and at least 50 % attend full time.
Highly residential = 50% or more of degree-seeking undergraduates live on campus** and at least 80 % attend full time.
**On campus is defined as institutionally-owned, -controlled, or -affiliated housing.
GMU has been trying very hard to shed its commuter school image by building more on-campus housing and accepting more OOS students. The latest Carnegie classification for GMU is that of a Four-year, large, primarily residential college…but I’d say just barely as I’m sure they just barely reached the 25% threshold.
ODU is classified as a Four-year, large, primarily nonresidential college. Likely because ODU also has online degrees and part time student population.
UMW and CNU are both classified as a Four-year, medium, highly residential college.
@BagpipersMom - uggg…D20 still waiting for EA decision from UMW.
Supposedly all EA decisions were postmarked by 1/31…snail mail is creating some stress in our house! I would have assumed that deferrals would have been mailed out quickly (which is what happened with CNU - her deferral received early ahead of S20’s acceptance)…but now D20 getting worried. Still praying for an acceptance!
She is already disadvantaged by being a white girl from NoVa with good (not great) stats.
@BagpipersMom – so today D20 followed up again with Admissions Counselor on status of her EA application…well, apparently they did not have her application marked as EA. She had completed a special UMW application back in August when she went for an interview. We have email proof of from her Admissions Counselor back in September that she would “make sure to make a note that your application should be considered Early Action.”
We are beyond frustrated and upset. Majority of emails to Admissions Counselor have had the subject line “EA Application #”.
D20 is very disappointed as this was her top choice. Ugg…
We are doing the happy dance today. D20 received her acceptance to UMW in the mail today!! Woohoo!!
@scoutmom2002 - congrats! Very excited for you. That was a quick turnaround, and deservedly so.
Following up as my DD is a rising senior looking at the same schools for early elementary Ed. What did your kids decide on and why?
@Mom0ftwo – My DD decided on UMW with CNU as the runner up. She was accepted at both. There was turmoil as VA DOE changed their requirements just this year so most schools did away with their 4+1 programs where you major in say English, History, etc. and get your MAT in 1 year. DD really wanted the 4+1 program.
UMW no longer offers the 4+1 program but instead now offers a BS in Education. DD doing Elementary Education with Special Education Endorsement.
Why not CNU? While CNU decided to retain the 4+1 program and offer the MAT during 5th year, they do not offer a Special Education Endorsement. So while DD could have her Masters in 5th year she would not be able to teach Special Ed. She would have to get the Special Ed endorsement later.
So it all comes down to really looking at the programs offered at the top schools your DD is looking at…if she doesn’t want be able to teach Special Ed then CNU is a good school.
Thanks for the feedback. I hope everything goes well at UMW. One of my DD good friends is about to start her freshman year there (also majoring in education).
My DD won’t look at UMW since it’s too close to us (we live in NoVa). She got her first acceptance at Longwood during summer decision and likes it there but will still apply to a few other schools and is eyeing CNU, though we haven’t been able to visit yet.
One more question regarding CNU. This week she received an unsolicited brochure from CNU with a letter saying she “has what it takes to be a Captain” and encouraging her to apply. I know it’s a form letter that I’m sure lots of prospective students get but was kind of surprised as she only has a 3.4 (no SAT due to COVID) which is a little low for their stats. Do you recall seeing anything like that last year? Wondering what to make of it. I’m sure this year admissions will be different with everything going on.
@Mom0ftwo My DD also was accepted to Longwood during summer decision day! We did really like the school, however, it was too remote of a location for her. We are also from NOVA, but she didn’t mind that so much.
My DD was actually wait listed at CNU (GPA of 3.2) and then got in. So 3.4 is actually doable! Although with COVID in play I’m honestly not sure how they will be capping students with no test scores. CNU I think takes a more holistic view of applications. I recall during a tour that the student guide mentioned he got in with only a 3.0 or so GPA. Also, CNU puts weight on Admissions Interviews. Even though it would likely be a virtual interview given the circumstances, I highly recommend.
Has DD even visited UMW? I would take proximity out of the picture and tell her to at least visit the campus. I’m so sorry you are doing admissions during COVID - really sucks.
My DD has been in contact with her roommate (also from NOVA and an Education major) and seems happy. Online classes begin next week and campus move in was pushed back to 10 September. Nothing easy with COVID.
She will do an interview with CNU sometime this fall and does tend to interview well. We are hoping they hold on campus interviews/tours in September but if they don’t she will go ahead and do a virtual interview. I will keep encouraging her to check out UMW in person (she wasn’t a fan of the virtual tour) as well since that does check the boxes of what she wants out of a college. She may apply to Radford as well (we toured last fall and her dad went there) but it’s not really on her radar at the moment. Reading through this thread has been very helpful!
@momoftwo: how would you/she compare Radford and Longwood?
@MYOS1634 she likes both but for now seems more interested in Longwood between the two.
We visited Radford last fall (as well as JMU) and just went to Longwood this summer for the decision/tour, which I highly recommend doing if your child is at all interested.
My personal POV (as someone that has lived my whole life in NoVa) is the schools have similar status but Longwood is a little smaller and maybe a little more “underrated”. Everyone I know that went to Longwood (maybe 5-6 people I can think of) loved it and has nothing but fond memories. I thought the Longwood campus was prettier but that isn’t a deal breaker for my kid. Seems like Longwood has some newer facilities. Most people I know that went to Radford liked it just fine as well.
As the OP mentioned, Longwood is more remote but my DD found the town charming so that isn’t an issue for her. Radford is down the road from Tech and I think students tend to “party“ at both Radford and Tech (at least my husband did back in the 90’s). Longwood is an hour closer to us and I personally preferred the drive down 15 rather than 81. That said, I believe both have a good education program (which is what my DD is interested in perusing), Radford’s may be a little better. Radford sent her some priority admission letter the other day (waved fee, no essays, etc) so she will probably apply to have it as an option, in case she changes her mind (which she is known to do, often).
I mentioned she had toured JMU last fall as well and for months that was on her list. That was until she realized that 50+ kids from the class of 2020 at her HS are attending. She doesn’t want to go to a school that has so many people from around here (Longwood usually only has about 3-5 a year and Radford about 10). Plus, many of the kids that are attending from the neighborhood aren’t her type of person. JMU is a reach anyway but it’s dropped from her list now.
DD isn’t into partying that much (usually likes to hang out with 1-3 people at a time) so I think she may be able to find her “people” at a school like Longwood or CNU. She definitely wants a school with smaller classes, which Radford, Longwood, CNU and UMW fit that criteria.
Like the OP said, Virginia has a lot of great schools and I’m certain she will get a good education wherever she ends up (even if it’s not one of the typical 4-5 schools people think of).
She plans to apply to CNU early (hasn’t decided if she will do ED or EA). In a normal year I’d guess she would be deferred to regular decision but hoping the uncertainty of COVID works in her favor and gets in early. I’ll update this thread as she continues the process since it’s the same theme of the OP.
At this point I’m just hoping COVID is under control by next fall and the way it’s looking now, I’m not so sure it will be. 
@MYOS1634 She likes both but is leaning towards Longwood for now. She got a “Choice” application letter the other day from Radford which waved the fee (and no essay necessary) so I think she will go ahead and apply to keep her options open, in case she changes her mind (which she is known to do, often).
As someone who has lived in NoVa their whole life, my personal opinion of the two is that they are about the same in terms of reputation. Longwood is probably more underrated (but that may be my perception). Radford is larger, 8k vs Longwood, below 5k. I think Radford is considered more of a party school. I know many people who have gone onto successful careers from both schools. Having spoken to some Longwood grads, they really speak fondly of it. As the OP said, Longwood is more rural but my daughter thought the town was cute so that isn’t an issue for her. Back when my husband went to Radford, he and his friends would often go to Tech to party. I imagine that still goes on today. As a parent, I don’t like the idea of needing to drive to parties. I’d much rather have everything be walking distance. Longwood is 3 hours from our home, Radford is 4. Both distances are doable but the drive down 15 is easier than 81 (imo). I thought Longwood was a little prettier and they have some newer dorms. I’ve read on Niche that the food isn’t good at Longwood. Not sure about Radford. Both are known for good education programs but I think Radford’s is higher rated.
My DD isn’t a big partier and prefers hanging out in small groups when she socializes. From seeing the types of kids in our neighborhood that have gone on to both those schools, I think she may find her “people” at a school like Longwood (or CNU) rather than Radford but who knows. She wants a smaller school where the class sizes are small enough where she can freely ask questions and work with the professors. All those schools tend to have smaller classes (than say, JMU, VCU or GMU). I think she would get lost at a bigger school.
As of right now, she plans to apply to CNU early (not sure if she will do ED vs EA) and that is her first choice but only based on the virtual tour and some friends she knows that go there. Longwood is her second choice and she feels she would be happy there (I agree). Radford is 3rd. I really want her (and myself) to see CNU in person to get a better feel for it. I know in our neighborhood it’s got a better “reputation” but as someone else mentioned, it’s still a relatively new university. I hadn’t really heard of it until 20 years ago.
I’m following all 3 universities now to watch how they handle the pandemic. What a crazy year this is. I also have a DS that is a junior so I’m thinking of him in the back of my mind but I think he will end up at VCU/JMU. He is someone that likes to blend in and is into computers (maybe a Cyber Security major) so he will be looking for different things out of a school than my DD.
Apologies for the (mostly) duplicate posts. My computer made it seem like the first one didn’t post so I rewrote it a few hours later. Now I’m seeing both.
@momoftwo: thank you for the thorough review!
Thought I’d give an update and I have a few questions for the parents of kids that applied to these schools last year.
D21 has submitted applications to the following Va schools (via common app):
CNU - applied EA (also did the in person interview)
UMW - applied EA
Radford- applied EA
VCU - applied Rolling
ODU - applied EA
I know CNU & UMW will notify in January. Does anyone remember what the turn around is for the other schools if your daughter/son applied? Just curious when we should expect to find out for Radford, VCU and ODU. Does the status get updated in common app when they decide? All schools say “application downloaded” right now (she submitted last week).
If anyone has thoughts on ODU or VCU, I’d love to hear them. Not sure how interested she is in either of them though. I still think she’ll end up at a small school.
DD has been accepted at UMW and CNU (as well as Longwood and Radford) and is deciding between the two!
Anyone who reads this have any new input of the pros and cons of the UMW and CNU? Would like feedback on how they handle Covid since it’s likely to still be an issue next year.
@Mom0ftwo I can give you perspective on Radford. The President is very committed to having students on campus with as much normalcy as possible within safety restrictions of course. RU is offering quite a few in-person and hybrid or blended courses so that students get some time on campus, interaction with professors and peers, etc. In my experience having that kind of structure is very important to keep students on track, especially if your child is not extremely organized and self-disciplined. You should check into how the other campuses are handling spring classes. I know UMW delayed move-in this past fall and I believe had a shorted semester on campus. Let me know if you have any more RU-related questions (sorry I can’t speak to the others).
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D21 has decided to attend CNU next year. This thread was very helpful for researching the smaller Va schools!
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