Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia · Private Nonprofit · 83.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Roanoke College scores 53 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The school charges $38,068 tuition with a $24,503 average net price, and produces $37,800 median 6-year earnings and a 10.3-year payback period. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.714 and median debt of $27,000 mean graduates are carrying a meaningful debt load relative to their earnings. The 67.4% completion rate is adequate but not strong for a selective-appearing private institution. Program data is sparse -- 12 programs tracked, several with small cohorts and missing year-one data -- which reflects the small enrollment of 1,767. Business Administration (72 graduates) is the strongest by volume and has workable outcomes; History earns an F grade (16 graduates, $25,940 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.041). Roanoke's ROI case is difficult at the current net price without a program-specific strong outcome.
Roanoke College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,068/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,068/yr |
| Average net price | $24,503/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $98,012 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,047 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 67.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,767 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Roanoke College is $38,068/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,503/year, or roughly $98,012 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $15,204/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,087/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $58,047 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.71 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $15,204 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,410 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,638 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,902 |
| $110,001+ | $30,087 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $15,204 net price per year at Roanoke -- a favorable figure for the low-income bracket. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays less ($15,902) than the $0-$30,000 bracket in a counterintuitive pattern in the aid formula. For low-income students with clear career goals in business or health-related fields, the $15k annual cost makes the financial case more defensible. The 67.4% completion rate remains a risk for all income groups.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $18,638 per year -- a reasonable price for a private liberal arts college. Four-year total cost at this rate is about $74,552. Against $37,800 median 6-year earnings and $27,000 median debt, the 10.3-year payback period reflects the full population including lower-earning programs. Business graduates with a concrete career plan will see shorter payback. Students in humanities or kinesiology will face longer timelines.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $30,087 per year, totaling about $120,348 over four years. At this price, Roanoke is in direct competition with Hollins University, Hampden-Sydney, and Washington and Lee in Virginia, as well as JMU and other public alternatives. The brand premium that Roanoke commands in the Roanoke Valley does not translate nationally. High-income families with a student who has strong credentials should compare JMU or Virginia Tech as more cost-effective alternatives with better outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Roanoke College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,323 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $65,112 | D |
| Biology | $55,246 | D |
| Psychology | $49,018 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,040 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $76,198 | D |
| History | $41,210 | F |
| Sociology | $59,580 | C |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $54,957 | C |
| International Relations | $71,604 | - |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Roanoke's anchor program: 72 graduates, $45,557 year-one, $69,323 year-four, ROI grade C, debt-to-earnings 0.580. Median debt of $26,429 against $45k starting salary is stretched. The four-year figure of $69k reflects career progression within the Roanoke Valley and southwest Virginia labor market. This program is the strongest value at Roanoke, though it compares unfavorably on earnings to business programs at Virginia public universities.
International Relations
International Relations has 12 graduates with only year-four earnings available at $71,604. The small cohort makes this figure unreliable as a planning baseline. No year-one data or debt information is available. Students interested in international relations at Roanoke should understand that the program is small and that the four-year earnings figure captures a limited number of graduates.
Biology
Biology has 39 graduates earning $37,458 year-one and $55,246 year-four, ROI grade D, debt-to-earnings 0.721. Median debt of $27,000 against $37k year-one earnings is financially stressful. The moderate four-year figure of $55k suggests that most biology graduates are entering direct employment in healthcare support, laboratory, or environmental roles rather than proceeding to medical or graduate school -- or, if they are in post-baccalaureate programs, the Scorecard is capturing the low-earning early years.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology and Exercise Science has 49 graduates earning $27,304 year-one and $65,112 year-four, ROI grade D, debt-to-earnings 0.989. The extreme gap between year-one ($27k) and year-four ($65k) strongly suggests a graduate school pipeline -- physical therapy, occupational therapy, or exercise physiology graduate programs -- where students earn little in years one through two before entering better-compensated clinical roles. Median debt of $27,000 against $27k year-one salary is a financially difficult starting point.
History
History is Roanoke's weakest tracked program: 16 graduates, $25,940 year-one, $41,210 year-four, ROI grade F, debt-to-earnings 1.041. Graduates owe slightly more than a full year's salary at year one. At a private liberal arts college charging $24,503 average net price, the history program's F-grade ROI reflects a field with limited direct employment demand at the bachelor's level. Students deeply committed to history should plan for law school, graduate programs, or applied career pivots early in their Roanoke enrollment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 83.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-31 |
| Enrollment | 1,767 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,553 |
An 83.1% acceptance rate with a moderate academic profile makes Roanoke accessible. The ACT 24-31 range indicates some academic spread in the admitted pool. Roanoke is not competing on selectivity but on campus fit and regional Lutheran identity. Families should use the net price calculator carefully -- at 83% acceptance, the financial package is the primary decision variable.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Roanoke's listed peers include Averett University, Bluefield University, The Master's University, Saint Norbert College, and St. Francis College. Roanoke (ROI 53) is the strongest in this peer group. The comparison set reflects small faith-affiliated regional liberal arts colleges with modest-to-weak ROI profiles. Saint Norbert College in Wisconsin is a reasonable comparable -- also Lutheran-affiliated, similar size, similar price. Roanoke's location in a small Virginia metro market is both a strength (regional employer relationships) and a constraint (limited labor market depth).
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke College (this school) | 53 | $24,503 | $58,047 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| The Master's University and Seminary | 54 | $32,647 | $57,106 |
| Saint Norbert College | 53 | $26,172 | $58,363 |
| Averett University | 37 | $22,925 | $51,516 |
| Bluefield University | 32 | $25,573 | $48,896 |
Who Thrives Here
Roanoke admits 83.1% of applicants with SAT ranges of 530-640 Math and 560-660 Reading and ACT 24-31 composite. At 1,767 undergraduates in Salem, Virginia, it is a small Lutheran-affiliated liberal arts college with a regional reputation in southwest Virginia. Students who want small class sizes, a residential campus environment, and proximity to the Roanoke Valley's outdoor recreation and healthcare sectors will find Roanoke's environment appealing. The earnings data suggest that students with professional or technical career goals will find better ROI at Virginia Tech, James Madison, or VCU, where program depth and alumni networks are stronger.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Roanoke College is mixed. At $24,503 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $58,047 ten years after entry - a payback period of 10.3 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $58,047 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.