Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia · Private Nonprofit · 93.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Randolph College, a small liberal arts college in Lynchburg, Virginia, scores 45 (Below Average Value tier). Tuition is $30,310 and net price is $15,921, and that generous discounting is genuine value. Average earnings six years out are $33,700, climbing solidly to a median $53,409 by year ten - an above-average earnings ramp suggesting graduates accelerate well into careers. Earnings premium of 0.29 (sub-score 64) is the school's strongest component. Where the score is dragged down: completion rate of 46.4% (sub-score 31) is weak, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 (sub-score 15) is concerning given $26,950 in median debt, and the 70.1% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 40) is mediocre. Payback period of 11.1 years is workable. The honest read: Randolph charges modestly thanks to deep tuition discounting, and graduates who finish see a respectable 10-year earnings outcome, but too many students don't finish and the typical graduate's debt load against early-career earnings produces tight payback math. Small enrollment (658 students) means programmatic data is thin, and individual outcomes vary substantially.
Randolph College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $30,310/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,310/yr |
| Average net price | $15,921/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $63,684 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,409 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,950 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 46.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 658 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $30,310/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,921/year, or roughly $63,684 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,048/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,590/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,950, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,700) and comes to 0.80, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,048 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,709 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,290 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,260 |
| $110,001+ | $19,590 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $13,048 net annually, totaling about $52,192 over four years. The discount off sticker is substantial. Combined with Pell aid, low-income students at Randolph face an affordable private-college path. The risk is the 46.4% completion rate - low-income students who don't finish carry meaningful debt without the credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $16,290 per year, about $65,160 over four years. The aid grading flattens through the middle income brackets, so middle-class families pay only $3,000 more annually than the lowest-income bracket. This is one of Randolph's value strengths - genuinely competitive net pricing for working middle-class families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,001+) pay $19,590 per year, totaling $78,360 across four years - still well under typical private-college sticker pricing.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Randolph College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $47,416 | C+ |
| Biology | $44,118 | C |
| Psychology | $52,293 | - |
| Business Administration and Management | $35,971 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 16 students per year with $47,416 in 4-year median earnings, $23,750 in median debt, and a 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio for a C+ grade - the school's strongest formal ROI grade. Graduates enter physical therapy assistant, fitness, and corporate wellness roles, often pursuing graduate study in DPT or PA programs. The small cohort makes data noisy, but the directional outcome is positive.
Biology
Biology graduates 11 students per year with $44,118 in 4-year earnings, $26,373 in median debt, and a 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio for a C grade. Like most undergraduate biology programs, the credential serves primarily as a graduate-school pipeline (medical, dental, PA programs); the 4-year earnings figure reflects the share of graduates who don't continue. Pre-health-track students who advance see materially different outcomes.
Psychology
Psychology produces 10 graduates with $52,293 in 4-year median earnings - a strong figure suggesting graduates are advancing into licensed practice or counseling roles requiring graduate study. Debt and 1-year earnings are not reported, leaving the formal ROI grade uncomputed. The directional outcome is positive for students who complete graduate education; undergraduate-only psychology degrees produce weaker outcomes.
Business Administration and Management
Business produces 4 graduates per year with $35,971 starting earnings, $25,000 in median debt, and a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio for a C grade. The cohort is too small for stable data. Students choosing business at Randolph should plan for clear regional career paths in Lynchburg or relocate to Richmond/DC metros for stronger earnings trajectories.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Randolph College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 658 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 45.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,701 |
Randolph admits 93.7% of applicants - effectively open admissions for a four-year private. SAT mid-range Math 550-590, Reading 550-620, and ACT composite of 19-26 reflect a moderately prepared student body. The 46.4% completion rate aligns with the broad admissions profile - students arriving with mixed academic preparation see attrition. Selectivity is not the differentiator here; the small-college experience and tuition discounting are the value propositions.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Randolph's 10-year earnings are $53,409 and the discounted net price is favorable. Randolph's completion rate is 46%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph College (this school) | 45 | $15,921 | $53,409 |
| Monmouth College | 46 | $17,133 | $51,110 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Hiram College | 44 | $21,058 | $54,311 |
| Averett University | 37 | $22,925 | $51,516 |
| Bluefield University | 32 | $25,573 | $48,896 |
Who Thrives Here
Randolph fits the Virginia or Mid-Atlantic student looking for a very small (658 students) residential liberal arts experience with low net cost and personalized attention. Pell rate of 45.8% indicates a working-class student body benefitting from the aggressive discounting. The fit case is strongest for academically-motivated students who self-select for small-class environments, particularly in psychology, biology, kinesiology, or business. Students uncertain about academic direction face attrition risk; the school's small scale means programmatic options are concentrated.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Randolph College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $15,921 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $53,409 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 46.4% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $26,950 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Randolph College: Common Questions
Is Randolph College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Randolph College scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $15,921 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $53,409 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Randolph College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,921 a year, or roughly $63,684 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Randolph College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,409 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,609 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Randolph College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.1 years for Randolph College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Randolph College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,950, against average earnings of $33,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Randolph College?
The six-year graduation rate is 46.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.