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). The cost picture is favorable for a private liberal arts school: sticker tuition of $30,310 with an aggressive average net price of just $15,921 - meaning Randolph discounts nearly half off list - puts four-year cost at a relatively contained $63,684. That generous discounting is genuine value. Median earnings six years out are $33,700, climbing solidly to $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 |
| Median 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. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. 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.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,950 in federal loans, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $53,409 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.80, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 one of the more affordable private-college paths in our dataset. 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. The aid grading caps at the high end, meaning even high-income families benefit from substantial discounting. For families weighing Randolph against Virginia public alternatives, the cost gap is real but smaller than at most privates.
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 | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.3% | 72.0% |
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 peer set - Averett, Bluefield, Briar Cliff, Hiram, and Monmouth - are all small private liberal arts colleges in similar size and selectivity ranges. Hiram College is also in our dataset and posts a similar profile of generous discounting paired with moderate completion challenges. Monmouth and Averett show similar earnings constraints. Within this peer cohort, Randolph's 10-year earnings ($53,409) is competitive and the discounted net price is favorable. The differentiator across the cohort is completion rate, where Randolph's 46% trails the strongest peers.
| 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 - slower than most four-year schools. 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, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $26,950 against $53,409 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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 - slower than most four-year schools.
How much does Randolph College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $15,921 a year, or roughly $63,684 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. 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. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Randolph College graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $26,950, against $53,409 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Randolph College?
The six-year graduation rate is 46.4%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. 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.