Roanoke College

Private · Moderately Selective · VA

Photo: roanokecollege (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationVA · South

SettingSuburban

Undergrads1,767

Student:faculty11:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate59.9%

6-yr grad rate67.4%

Drop-out rate24.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$38k

Out-of-state tuition$38k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity23.8%

Gender diversity52.4%

International3.3%

IdentityEvangelical Lutheran Church

Overview

Roanoke College is a Lutheran-affiliated liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia, in the Roanoke Valley between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains. The historic red-brick campus and small classes give it a traditional liberal-arts feel, with the surrounding mountains providing easy access to outdoor recreation.

Academics

Business, biology, and education are among the most popular majors, supported by a solid liberal-arts core. Class sizes are small and faculty accessibility is a consistent theme, typical of colleges at this scale. Pre-health advising benefits from biology's strength and from regional hospital connections in the Roanoke Valley.

Campus & student life

The historic red-brick campus sits in the Roanoke Valley, with the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains close enough for regular hiking, climbing, and outdoor activity to be a real part of student life. Most students live on campus, and Greek life and athletics, at the Division III level, are visible parts of the social scene.

Getting in

Roanoke's review is holistic, and the college is known for competitive merit scholarships aimed at drawing strong students who might otherwise choose a larger or more expensive institution. Lutheran affiliation shapes the college's values without requiring a religious commitment from applicants.

After graduation

Business and biology graduates place well regionally, with biology majors moving into health professions and graduate programs at a solid rate. The alumni network is concentrated in Virginia and the broader mid-Atlantic.

Worth knowing

The outdoor access built into the Roanoke Valley setting is a genuine draw for students who want hiking and mountain recreation as part of college life, not just a scenic backdrop.

roanoke.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate83.1%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1090–1300 · ACT 24–31

Test policyoptional

Rec letters—

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Regular decisionMar 1

Applying