11. Radford University
Location: Radford, VA
Class of 2017 applications: 111
Arlington applications to the southwestern Virginia school, where students kayak and fish in the mountains and river close by, are up substantially from 85 last year. Founded in 1910, Radford tied at number 43 for best regional universities in the South, and it tied for 15th among the top public schools, according to U.S. News & World Report. Tuition is $10,627 for 2017-18 and the school enrolled 8,453 students.