Hollins University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Roanoke, Virginia. It enrolls 665 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes53
Value17
Affordability57
Selectivity66
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 68%, Hollins University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
68%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1150 – 1340
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Hollins University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
0.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Hollins University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,896 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,896
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
56%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$43,560
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,800
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,720
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,860
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,210
Total Cost of Attendance
$58,698
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,511
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,304
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,395
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,721
Over $110,000
$26,826
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,75025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,250
↓ $3,750
No Pell $19,750
↓ $7,250
Dependent students $23,250
↓ $3,750
Independent students $15,750
↓ $11,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,450, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
59% of full-time students who enrolled at Hollins University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Hollins University earn a median of $40,075 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,075
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Hollins University is home to 665 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
665
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
26%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.2%400
Black 15.6%104
Hispanic 11.7%78
International 5.7%38
Other 4.5%30
Asian 1.8%12
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Hollins University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbRoanoke, Virginia
Housing
Strongly residential695 beds for 665 students
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Women's college
What You Can Study
Hollins University offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hollins University is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$360M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,081
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
87 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
17
20%
$82,497
Associate Professors
19
22%
$69,634
Assistant Professors
44
51%
$59,406
Lecturers
5
6%
$51,930
No Rank
2
2%
$48,253
Pros & Cons of Hollins University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Hollins University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Hollins University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hollins University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Hollins University.
Is Hollins University hard to get into?
Admissions at Hollins University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 68%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Hollins University?
Hollins University has an acceptance rate of 68%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Hollins University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Hollins University scored between 1150 and 1340 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Hollins University cost?
The average net price after aid at Hollins University is $20,896 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Hollins University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,075 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,896 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Hollins University known for?
Hollins University is best known for its programs in Psychology, English, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Hollins University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Hollins University are $40,075, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Hollins University accredited?
Yes. Hollins University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Hollins University?
Hollins University enrolls 665 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Hollins University?
Hollins University graduates 59% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Hollins University a public or private college?
Hollins University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Hollins University located?
Hollins University is located in Roanoke, Virginia.
What programs does Hollins University offer?
Hollins University offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, English, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Hollins University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hollins University is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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