Hollins University
Roanoke, VA 24020
About Hollins University
Hollins University is a private research university in Roanoke, Virginia, enrolling about 665 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 67.95% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $40,075 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Hollins University charges 49% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($43,560).
- Versus the Virginia median, sticker tuition is about 2.7×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 64.65%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $40,075.
Research findings
Finding
Average net price at Hollins University is about 52% below published tuition.
Published tuition is $43,560; average net price is $20,896 in the latest Scorecard extract.
Interpretation: Institutional aid and grants compress sticker price into a substantially lower typical undergraduate cost signal.
Limitation: Average net price masks variation by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the campus average.
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Hollins University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 379% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollins University | $43,560 | $20,896 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Virginia (state median) | $16,364 | $8,852 | 107 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 52% below published tuition at Hollins University
Key findings
- Hollins University's average net price ($20,896) is 52% below published tuition ($43,560).
- Hollins University charges 49% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($43,560).
- Versus the Virginia median, sticker tuition is about 2.7×.
Hollins University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $43,560
Finding Hollins University charges 49% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $43,560. That is 49% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Virginia median ($16,364), sticker tuition is about 2.7×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.7×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Hollins University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Hollins University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Hollins University is $20,896.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $20,896 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $12,044 above the Virginia median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $2,196 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Hollins University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 52% lower after grants and scholarships.
Hollins University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Hollins University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Completion, earnings, and net price together describe a campus where sticker price overstates typical undergraduate cost while outcomes remain at the high end of Scorecard distributions.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$43,560
Avg. net price
$20,896
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $17,511 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $19,304 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,395 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,721 |
| $110,001+ | $26,826 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $174,240. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Hollins University is known for
Top program completions
- Creative Writing23
- Fine/Studio Arts, General19
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General17
- Psychology, General17
- English Language and Literature, General16
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 9% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1230
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Hollins University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Hollins University is a good school for those looking for strong completion and solid mid-career earnings—especially where average net price sits well below published tuition (about 52% lower in this extract).
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Hollins University.
Campus
Location
Roanoke, VA
City / state
- ZIP
- 24020
- NCES locale
- Rural distant
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 12% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Size
Enrollment
665
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 673
- Graduate
- 96
- Full-time share
- 99%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$27,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 39.44%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Hollins University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Hollins University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Hollins University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $33,320 | $33,320 | $20,252 |
| 2014 | $34,295 | $34,295 | $19,976 |
| 2015 | $35,635 | $35,635 | $17,408 |
| 2016 | $36,835 | $36,835 | $18,918 |
| 2017 | $38,285 | $38,285 | $19,456 |
| 2018 | $39,035 | $39,035 | $20,762 |
| 2019 | $40,010 | $40,010 | $20,603 |
| 2020 | $40,110 | $40,110 | $20,127 |
| 2021 | $40,170 | $40,170 | $22,664 |
| 2022 | $41,210 | $41,210 | $22,078 |
| 2023 | $42,260 | $42,260 | $22,263 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1230 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.40
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Hollins University reported total enrollment of about 665 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 0% male and 100% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (60.2%), Black or African American (15.6%), and Hispanic or Latino (11.7%). About 39.44% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 25.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Hollins University in 2024 is 665 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 673 students. Graduate enrollment is about 96 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
74.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
57.07% 100% Completion Time
64.65% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 57.07% of students graduating from Hollins University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Creative Writing: 17% male / 83% female
- Fine/Studio Arts, General: 0% male / 100% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 0% male / 100% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Hollins University graduates earn a median of $40,075 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Hollins University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $40,075. Median federal loan debt: $27,000. Average net price used in cost models: $20,896.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Hollins University graduates report median earnings of $40,075 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Hollins University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (32 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Hollins University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Hollins University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Hollins University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$254.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Virginia median 8.3× the median ($30.9M)
- Southeast median 13× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 9.7× the median ($26.4M)
- Virginia median 22× the median ($13,171)
- Southeast median 31× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 24× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 61.7%
- Virginia median 0.6 pp above median (61.0%)
- Southeast median 2.2 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 3.7 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,276
- Virginia median 0.89× the median ($8,196)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $19,506
- Virginia median 2.6× the median ($7,382)
- Southeast median 3.0× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 2.7× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Hollins University at a glance
Hollins University
Hollins University is a private non-profit institution in Roanoke, VA, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Creative WritingFine/Studio Arts, GeneralBiology/Biological Sciences, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian60.2%Black or African American15.6%Hispanic or Latino11.7%
Schools near Hollins University
Other campuses in Roanoke, VA when available, plus nearby institutions in Virginia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Virginia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hollins University located?
Hollins University is located in Roanoke, VA.
What is Hollins University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Hollins University is 68.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,992 applicants and 2,120 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Hollins University's tuition?
Hollins University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $43,560 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $20,896 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Hollins University cost?
Reported tuition is $43,560 and average net price is $20,896 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $15,800 annually.
Why is Hollins University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Hollins University, published tuition is $43,560 while average net price is $20,896—about 52% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Hollins University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($20,896), completion (64.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($40,075). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Hollins University?
Hollins University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 673 students, White (60.2%), Black or African American (15.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Hollins University?
About 25.8% of students at Hollins University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Hollins University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Hollins University reports midpoint SAT about 1230.
What do graduates of Hollins University earn?
Median earnings are $29,863 six years after entry and $40,075 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Hollins University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 64.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Hollins University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.