After first opening in 1913, Radford University became Radford State Teachers College in 1924 and was authorized to award the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935. In 1944, the university was consolidated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute as its Women's Division and renamed Radford College. The General Assembly severed the formal affiliation of Radford College with Virginia Tech in 1964, and an autonomous administration was established for Radford College and the college was also authorized to grant the Master of Science degree. In 1972, after almost 60 years as an all women's college, Radford became coeducational and in 1979 was granted university status by the Virginia General Assembly. Today, Radford University is a coeducational, comprehensive institution with undergraduate and graduate programs.