Roanoke College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Roanoke College charges a net price of $24,503/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $98,012. Graduates earn a median $58,047 ten years after entry, $9,687/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 10.1 years — a 20-year net return of $95,728, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Roanoke College's 10.1-year payback ranks #795 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 38% of them, and #21 of 81 in Virginia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,503/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $98,012 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $58,047 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $9,687/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 10.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $95,728 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Roanoke College's own numbers. Net price $24,503 × 4 years = $98,012 total. Median earnings $58,047 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,687 a year of premium. $98,012 ÷ $9,687 = 10.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $95,728. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Roanoke College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 47% of the $58,047 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Roanoke College students graduate?
67% finish their degree — 33% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $98,012 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $146,287 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Roanoke College expensive compared with other Virginia colleges?
Its $24,503 net price runs $5,437 above the $19,066 median across the 81 Virginia colleges we profile, or $21,748 more across the full degree.