Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Roanoke College #1267 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Roanoke College in the 15.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Roanoke College #1006 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Roanoke College's Azimuth ranking reflects strong outcomes for graduates relative to cost paid. These results span earnings beyond expectations and overall return on investment, anchored by the institution's broad program mix and focus on career-aligned majors.
Azimuth ranks Roanoke College #1267 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Salem, Virginia, Roanoke College enrolls roughly 1,767 undergraduates. Retention is 75.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.4%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Roanoke College performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Roanoke College #1006 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Roanoke College in the 15.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This earnings advantage reflects the college's strength in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable career pathways. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Roanoke College sits in the 12.8 percentile for access and the 21.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college enrolls 24.4% Pell-eligible students and 20.7% first-generation undergraduates — modest shares that reflect Roanoke College's positioning as a smaller, tuition-dependent private institution. Mobility outcomes rank in the 45.4 percentile, indicating that while the college serves a narrower access band, those students who enroll tend to see meaningful economic progress relative to similar institutions.
Roanoke College's published cost of attendance is $54,283. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,204, middle-income families pay around $18,638, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,087. Azimuth ranks Roanoke College #1123 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Roanoke College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and offers institutional scholarships to qualifying students. The college uses the FAFSA to assess financial need and constructs aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,178; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,840, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Roanoke College is a strong fit for students drawn to business and related applied fields who want a private college experience in VA, VA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,840, placing Roanoke College in the 31.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 15.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 24.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.7% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Roanoke College in the 79.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 83.1% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related applied fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong earnings trajectory and aid package.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Roanoke College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Communication and Media Studies
33 graduates
Political Science and Government
16 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
75 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
46 graduates
Sociology
8 graduates
Roanoke College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity with a career-focused orientation. Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Kinesiology, Biology, General, and Communication and Media Studies.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 459 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The strongest earnings performers span business, health, and applied fields.
Communication and Media Studies leads with median earnings of $76,198 four years after enrollment from 33 graduates, followed by Political Science at $71,604 and Business Administration at $69,323. These programs reflect Roanoke College's strength in fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and see steady earnings growth through the early career years.
Kinesiology and Criminal Justice round out the highest-earning cohort, demonstrating depth across applied professional pathways. The program portfolio balances Business at 16%, Education at 8%, and Social Sciences at 7%, positioning Roanoke College as a career-oriented liberal arts college with particular strength in business and professional preparation.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Roanoke College's published cost of attendance is $54,283. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,204, middle-income families pay around $18,638, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,087.
Azimuth ranks Roanoke College #1123 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Roanoke College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and offers institutional scholarships to qualifying students. The college uses the FAFSA to assess financial need and constructs aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,178; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,840, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Roanoke College earn median 4-year earnings of $56,840, placing Roanoke College in the 31.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Roanoke College in the 15.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Roanoke College #1006 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Roanoke College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $69,323, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 49 students with median 4-year earnings of $49,018, while Kinesiology delivers median 4-year earnings of $65,112 across 46 graduates.
Together, these programs anchor Roanoke College's return profile and demonstrate how the college's focus on Business translates into competitive early-career outcomes for students.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lasell University Similar quality tier (#34928 ranked) | MA | 81% | $49,705 | #34928 | Compare |
Hope College Similar quality tier (#34930 ranked) | MI | 79% | $58,427 | #34930 | Compare |
Bethany Lutheran College Similar quality tier (#34925 ranked) | MN | 39% | $46,110 | #34925 | Compare |
Barton College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#34934 ranked) | NC | 94% | $47,913 | #34934 | Compare |
Eastern Mennonite University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#34410 ranked) | VA | 100% | $54,869 | #34410 | Compare |
