Roanoke, Virginia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Roanoke, Virginia shows: median public in-state tuition $17,424 (+216.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $40,075 (-26.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 82.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S.) 5,047 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 5 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 5,047 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $17,424 (+216.1% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $40,075 (-26.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 82.1% (-5.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,607 (+106.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 64.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 74.0%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Roanoke, Virginia—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Virginia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Roanoke vs Virginia & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, Virginia | $17,424 | $20,607 | $20,000 | 64.6% | 5,047 |
| Virginia (state median) | $5,400 | $8,852 | $20,000 | 57.6% | 382,545 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Roanoke, Virginia vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, Virginia | $40,075 | 82.1% | 74.0% | 4.3% | — | 65.2% | 0.67 |
| Virginia (state median) | $54,869 | 86.8% | 75.7% | 4.1% | — | 74.4% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Virginia (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, Virginia | $17,424 | $20,607 | $20,000 | 64.6% | 5,047 | $40,075 | 82.1% |
| Lynchburg | $17,724 | $21,253 | $24,250 | 57.4% | 55,015 | $53,409 | 82.4% |
| Norfolk | $16,337 | $19,164 | $17,375 | 42.4% | 36,344 | $49,790 | 87.0% |
| Blacksburg | $15,948 | $24,953 | $21,678 | 86.2% | 30,923 | $81,698 | 90.7% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Virginia Beach | $18,484 | $19,676 | $20,000 | 41.6% | 21,077 | $44,498 | 80.2% |
| Hampton | $18,189 | $19,018 | $15,524 | 57.2% | 7,812 | $59,159 | 87.0% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 64.6%, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 82.1%, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Roanoke, Virginia (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 68.0%, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $27,721, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $45,633, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $29,863, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,135, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,075, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $67,862, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Roanoke, Virginia (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $20,896, Hollins University
Hollins University
Top 10 colleges in Roanoke, Virginia by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 74.0%, Hollins University
Hollins University
In-state tuition: Roanoke, Virginia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Roanoke, Virginia median in-state tuition is $17,424, +216.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Roanoke, Virginia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Roanoke, Virginia is $20,000 (+48.9% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
Median earnings (10 years out): Roanoke, Virginia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Roanoke, Virginia center around $40,075 (-26.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Roanoke, Virginia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 82.1% at the median Roanoke, Virginia campus (-5.8 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Roanoke, Virginia median public in-state tuition is $17,424, about +216.1% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +249.0%.
Median graduate debt is $20,000 (+48.9% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Roanoke, Virginia are $40,075, about -26.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 82.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-5.8 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 74.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 65.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Hollins University (82.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Roanoke, Virginia is 64.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Roanoke?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 5 campuses in Roanoke, Virginia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Roanoke?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Roanoke is $17,424 and median net price is $20,607. For Virginia overall, medians are $5,400 and $8,852; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Roanoke?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Roanoke is $40,075 vs $54,869 for Virginia and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Roanoke colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Roanoke is $20,000 vs $20,000 for Virginia and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Roanoke?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Hollins University (graduation) and Hollins University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Roanoke?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 5 College Scorecard campuses in Roanoke, Virginia, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Virginia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON