Roanoke College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Salem, Virginia. It enrolls 1,767 students (a mid-sized 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 CalendarSemester
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
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes60
Value36
Affordability29
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.1%, Roanoke College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1090 – 1300
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 31
Cumulative composite
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 Roanoke College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Roanoke College 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 $24,503 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$24,503
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
80%
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
$38,068
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,366
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,564
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,250
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,250
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,283
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$15,204
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,410
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,638
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,902
Over $110,000
$30,087
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$35,00090%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 $21,934
↓ $5,066
Dependent students $22,313
↓ $4,687
Independent students $22,076
↓ $4,924
Female students $23,547
↓ $3,453
Male students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at Roanoke College graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Roanoke College earn a median of $58,047 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,047
Earning > $25K
87%
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 Gender
Female graduates
$48,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$53,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,000, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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 ↑
14.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Roanoke College is home to 1,767 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,767
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
21%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.2%1,346
Black 7.1%126
Hispanic 7.0%123
Other 4.9%86
International 3.3%58
Asian 1.6%28
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Roanoke College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbSalem, Virginia
Housing
Strongly residential1,540 beds for 1,767 students
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Roanoke College offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
19 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 Roanoke College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$310M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,973
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
156 instructional faculty across 4 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
43
28%
$82,353
Associate Professors
48
31%
$68,303
Assistant Professors
21
13%
$64,931
No Rank
44
28%
$55,010
Pros & Cons of Roanoke College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Roanoke College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Roanoke College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Roanoke College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Roanoke College.
Is Roanoke College hard to get into?
Roanoke College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Roanoke College?
Roanoke College has an acceptance rate of 83.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Roanoke College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Roanoke College scored between 1090 and 1300 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Roanoke College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Roanoke College scored between 24 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Roanoke College cost?
The average net price after aid at Roanoke College is $24,503 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Roanoke College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,047 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,503 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Roanoke College known for?
Roanoke College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Kinesiology, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Roanoke College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Roanoke College are $58,047, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Roanoke College accredited?
Yes. Roanoke College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Roanoke College?
Roanoke College enrolls 1,767 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Roanoke College?
Roanoke College graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Roanoke College a public or private college?
Roanoke College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Roanoke College located?
Roanoke College is located in Salem, Virginia.
What programs does Roanoke College offer?
Roanoke College offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Kinesiology, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Roanoke College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Roanoke College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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