Roanoke College vs Randolph-Macon College: which has better ROI?
Roanoke College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,012 in 10.1 years versus 11 years at Randolph-Macon College, on median earnings of $58,047 vs $58,448 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Roanoke College | Randolph-Macon College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,503 | $27,866 |
| Total net cost | $98,012 | $111,464 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,047 | $58,448 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 10.1 yrs | 11 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $95,728 | $90,296 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Roanoke College or Randolph-Macon College?
Roanoke College, at $24,503 a year after aid versus $27,866 — a gap of $3,363 a year, or $13,452 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Roanoke College or Randolph-Macon College graduates earn more?
Randolph-Macon College graduates report a median $58,448 ten years after entry, $401 more than the $58,047 at Roanoke College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Roanoke College or Randolph-Macon College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Randolph-Macon College, against 67% at Roanoke College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.