PrivateSuburban

Roanoke College

Name: Sophomore and Junior Open House
Start: 2026-05-09T10:00:00
Location: Roanoke College

Salem, Virginia 24153-3794

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Campus Vibe

Tight-knitSuburbanGreek life

Known for business

Roanoke College is a private institution in Salem with particular strength in business and biology. With an average SAT of 1193, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.8K undergraduates with a 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

66% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $58,047 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $27,786.

Established

1842

Motto

"Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat"

Mascot

Rooney (a "Maroon-tailed Hawk")

Type

Private liberal arts college

Conference

Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Division

Division III

Campus Visits

2 upcoming visits · Next: Sat, Apr 18 · Open House

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80%Acceptance

1193SAT Avg

1,801Students

11:1Student:Faculty

66%Grad Rate

$58,047Earnings 10yr

$27,786Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Roanoke College Launches New Data Science Minor

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tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

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Admissions

Acceptance Rate80.1%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1193

Reading & WritingMid: 590

560650

MathMid: 565

530620

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 25

2230

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

80.1%

Trend

SAT Avg

1193

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$36,774

Room & Board$15,366

Books & Supplies$1,000

Total Cost of Attendance$54,059

Average Net Price$27,786

Median Debt at Graduation$27,000

Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$20,269

$30–48K$19,396

$48–75K$24,279

$75–110K$26,939

$110K+$32,137

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$27,786

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

1900.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$22,313

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

Peer Average

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

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Programs (34)

Student Life

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Student Body

Undergrads

1,801

Gender Split

54% / 46%

Women / Men

First Generation

21%

Pell Grant Recipients

24%

Race & Ethnicity

White 77%

Black 6%

Hispanic 7%

Asian 2%

Two+ 4%

Int'l 4%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate65.9%

Freshman Retention77.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$45,330

8 Years$52,365

10 Years$58,047

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women

$48,300

Men

$56,300

Rankings

U.S. News

#130

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Forbes

#462

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Wall Street Journal

#29

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Washington Monthly

#196

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More About This School

Varsity Sports

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Rankings

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History & Fun Facts

•Originally located in Augusta County near Staunton, the school was named Virginia Institute until chartered on January 30, 1845, as Virginia Collegiate Institute.
•In 1847, the institute moved to Salem which was developing into a center of commerce and transportation in the region; the school moved all of its possessions in a single covered wagon.
•The Virginia General Assembly granted a college charter on March 14, 1853 and approved the name Roanoke College, chosen in honor of the Roanoke Valley.
•Bittle then served as the college's first president.
•The student body was organized into a corps of cadets and fought with Confederate forces near Salem in December 1863.

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Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

106Above Average

Estimated from VA state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Raleighpop. 470K

131 mi(227 min)

Charlottepop. 880K

149 mi(258 min)

Washingtonpop. 690K

198 mi(343 min)

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Getting There

Nearest Airports

RDU Raleigh-Durham120 mi

RIC Richmond151 mi

CLT Charlotte152 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA591 mi · ~17h 4m drive

New York, NY401 mi · ~11h 35m drive

Hartford, CT500 mi · ~14h 27m drive

Providence, RI556 mi · ~16h 4m drive

Albany, NY498 mi · ~14h 23m drive

Syracuse, NY448 mi · ~12h 57m drive

Rochester, NY425 mi · ~12h 17m drive

Buffalo, NY391 mi · ~11h 18m drive

Philadelphia, PA321 mi · ~9h 16m drive

Pittsburgh, PA217 mi · ~6h 16m drive

Harrisburg, PA267 mi · ~7h 43m drive

Newark, NJ395 mi · ~11h 25m drive

Washington, DC198 mi · ~5h 43m drive

Baltimore, MD232 mi · ~6h 42m drive

Atlanta, GA345 mi · ~9h 58m drive

Charlotte, NC149 mi · ~4h 18m drive

Raleigh, NC131 mi · ~3h 47m drive

Miami, FL797 mi · ~23h 1m drive

Orlando, FL610 mi · ~17h 37m drive

Tampa, FL661 mi · ~19h 6m drive

Nashville, TN381 mi · ~11h drive

New Orleans, LA767 mi · ~22h 9m drive

Richmond, VA145 mi · ~4h 11m drive

Chicago, IL512 mi · ~14h 47m drive

Detroit, MI382 mi · ~11h 2m drive

Minneapolis, MN867 mi · ~25h 3m drive

St. Louis, MO560 mi · ~16h 11m drive

Kansas City, MO798 mi · ~23h 3m drive

Indianapolis, IN371 mi · ~10h 43m drive

Columbus, OH243 mi · ~7h 1m drive

Cleveland, OH303 mi · ~8h 45m drive

Milwaukee, WI573 mi · ~16h 33m drive

Dallas, TX996 mi · ~28h 46m drive

Houston, TX1022 mi · ~29h 31m drive

Austin, TX1123 mi · ~32h 27m drive

San Antonio, TX1192 mi · ~34h 26m drive

Los Angeles, CA2141 mi · ~61h 51m drive

San Francisco, CA2301 mi · ~66h 28m drive

San Diego, CA2110 mi · ~60h 57m drive

Seattle, WA2239 mi · ~64h 41m drive

Portland, OR2252 mi · ~65h 3m drive

Denver, CO1354 mi · ~39h 7m drive

Phoenix, AZ1815 mi · ~52h 26m drive

Salt Lake City, UT1716 mi · ~49h 34m drive

Honolulu, HI4689 mi · ~135h 28m drive

Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

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Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park

Visitor parking lot

Free parking with visitor pass

9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions

Admissions Office

10:00 AMInformation session

Welcome Center

45 minutes

11:00 AMCampus tour

Starts at Welcome Center

75 minutes, student-led

12:30 PMLunch

Main Dining Hall

Visitor meal passes available

1:30 PMDepartment visit

Academic buildings

Schedule with department directly

2:30 PMExplore campus independently

Library, student center, residence halls

Nearby Hotels

Mid-Range

Check nearby hotels

$100-180/night

< 5 mi

Airport Transit

Raleigh-Durham (RDU)120 miles

Rental car

180 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

240 min$144-240

Richmond (RIC)151 miles

Rental car

227 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

302 min$181-302

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Schools Like This

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Deadline Calendar

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Roanoke College Application Checklist

0/9 items complete

Common Application or Coalition Application

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Official High School Transcript

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School Report + Counselor Recommendation

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Two Teacher Recommendations

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SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

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Roanoke College Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

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CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

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Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

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Interview (recommended)Optional

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Decision Notifications

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SAT Range	Avg Award	Note
1400-1600	$25,000	Academic merit scholarship
1200-1399	$15,000	Dean's scholarship
1000-1199	$8,000	Achievement award