Shenandoah University vs Randolph-Macon College: which has better ROI?
Randolph-Macon College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $111,464 in 11 years versus 12 years at Shenandoah University, on median earnings of $58,448 vs $58,433 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Shenandoah University | Randolph-Macon College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,298 | $27,866 |
| Total net cost | $121,192 | $111,464 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,433 | $58,448 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 12 yrs | 11 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $80,268 | $90,296 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Shenandoah University or Randolph-Macon College?
Randolph-Macon College, at $27,866 a year after aid versus $30,298 — a gap of $2,432 a year, or $9,728 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Shenandoah University or Randolph-Macon College graduates earn more?
Randolph-Macon College graduates report a median $58,448 ten years after entry, $15 more than the $58,433 at Shenandoah University. 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, Shenandoah University or Randolph-Macon College?
Shenandoah University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Randolph-Macon College, a difference of $2,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Randolph-Macon College, against 67% at Shenandoah University. 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.