Students from low-income backgrounds at Roanoke College achieve exceptional long-term earnings that rank among the top 20% nationally, demonstrating the institution's ability to create meaningful economic mobility.
Graduates across income levels see solid financial outcomes supported by strong loan repayment patterns and career advancement opportunities.
Roanoke College delivers solid long-term outcomes within Virginia's competitive private college landscape, though at a premium price point that requires careful family financial planning. Located in Salem, this small liberal arts institution serves about 24% Pell Grant recipients and 21% first-generation students, maintaining selectivity while providing meaningful access for motivated students from diverse backgrounds.
Graduates earn a median of $58,047 ten years after enrollment, placing the college above average nationally for earnings outcomes. The institution's strength lies in its ability to support low-income students once enrolled—those from lower-income backgrounds earn about $53,600 at the 10-year mark, ranking in the top 20% nationally for low-income student earnings. This performance places Roanoke in the "Selective Achievers" category, indicating strong outcomes for students who gain admission.
As a small private college, Roanoke offers the intimate learning environment and close faculty relationships that many families seek, though the financial commitment is substantial. The college's graduation rate of 66% reflects solid student support, while its focus on business, exercise science, and psychology programs provides clear pathways into stable career fields.
Roanoke College's program portfolio reflects the liberal arts tradition while maintaining focus on career-oriented fields that provide clear pathways to employment. Business Administration stands out as both the largest program and the strongest contributor to overall institutional outcomes, graduating 85 students annually with early-career earnings around $36,938. This combination of scale and solid outcomes makes business the college's economic engine, preparing students for corporate roles across Virginia and beyond.
Exercise Science and Kinesiology represents the second-largest program with 47 graduates, leading to early earnings of about $28,598 as students enter health, fitness, and rehabilitation careers. Psychology, with 37 graduates earning approximately $33,281, provides a foundation for graduate study or entry into human services, counseling, and related fields. These programs reflect Roanoke's strength in combining liberal arts breadth with professional preparation.
The college's small size means each program benefits from close faculty mentorship and personalized career guidance, advantages that help explain why graduates often perform well in competitive job markets despite the institution's regional profile. Students receive individual attention that larger universities cannot match, creating networks and relationships that support long-term career advancement across diverse fields.
Roanoke College graduates achieve solid long-term earnings that reflect the value of a liberal arts education combined with practical career preparation. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $58,047, placing the institution above average nationally for earnings outcomes. While this represents strong absolute performance, graduates earn somewhat less than statistical models would predict based on student characteristics, suggesting the premium paid for the Roanoke experience comes primarily through the educational environment rather than pure earnings maximization.
Program-level outcomes vary meaningfully across fields of study. Business Administration, the college's largest program with 85 graduates, produces early-career earnings around $36,938 and represents the highest aggregate return due to its scale and solid outcomes. Exercise Science and Kinesiology, with 47 graduates, leads to early earnings of about $28,598, reflecting the health and fitness industry's compensation patterns. Psychology graduates, numbering 37, earn approximately $33,281 in their early careers, positioning them well for graduate school or entry-level professional roles.
The college's small size means each program maintains close faculty relationships and personalized career guidance, which helps explain why graduates often perform well in competitive job markets despite the institution's modest national profile. For students prioritizing mentorship, networking, and the liberal arts experience, Roanoke's return profile supports long-term career development even if immediate post-graduation earnings don't always match the full cost of attendance.
Affordability represents Roanoke College's most significant challenge, with net prices that require substantial family financial commitment across all income levels. Low-income students pay about $20,269 annually after aid, while middle-income families face costs around $24,279 per year, and high-income families pay approximately $32,137. These figures place Roanoke in the bottom 20% nationally for affordability, reflecting the reality that private liberal arts colleges typically carry premium pricing.
The debt picture requires careful family planning, as typical graduates leave with $27,000 in federal student loans and families often take on an additional $26,581 in Parent PLUS debt. Combined, this represents significant borrowing that families must weigh against the college's outcomes and the value they place on the small-college experience. However, Roanoke's loan repayment patterns show encouraging signs—the college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, and borrowers pay down balances faster than national averages, with 12% achieving full payoff within the first year after leaving school.
For families who can manage the upfront investment, Roanoke's financial aid office works to make attendance possible, but the fundamental cost structure means this institution works best for families with substantial college savings, current income capacity, or strong conviction about the value of small-college education. The premium pricing reflects small class sizes, personalized attention, and the liberal arts experience, but requires honest family financial assessment before enrollment.
Roanoke College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
