Fast Facts
Roanoke College is an independent, co-educational, four-year liberal arts college. Founded in 1842, it is the second-oldest Lutheran-related college in America. Discover why US News and World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes Magazine consistently rank Roanoke as one of the top colleges and liberal arts programs in the nation.
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Top 9%
Princeton Review’s Best 389 Colleges
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#14
Princeton Review’s best college radio stations
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Top 7%
One of only 290 institutions to house Phi Beta Kappa honor society chapter
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1 of 16
Roanoke was recognized as one of 16 colleges of distinction in the state for 2024.
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1,759
full-time students
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18
average class size
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97
areas of study, including majors, minors, concentrations and pre-professional programs.
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18,000+
graduates across almost every state and across the world.
Something for Everyone
Learn about yourself and find your place on the court, track or in the great outdoors.
Discover history and find adventure – in your own backyard
Roanoke’s 80-acre campus is unlike any other. Rich in history and traditions, Roanoke is yours to discover.
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Top 20
Ranked among the most beautiful campuses by The Princeton Review in 2012.
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10%
of campus buildings are on state and national historic registers.
Welcome to Salem, VA
Located in the heart of Salem (pop. 25,373), Roanoke offers small-town beauty with access to big-city amenities.
This is your path forward, blazed by faculty known across the globe.
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116
tenure-track faculty
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95%
of faculty hold the highest degree possible in their field.
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96%
of alumni say Roanoke professors are genuinely interested in students.
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90%
of alumni say Roanoke professors influenced their personal growth.
Accreditation
- Roanoke College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award master's and baccalaureate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Roanoke College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
- The three-fold purpose for publishing the commission's address and contact number is to enable interested constituents 1) to learn about the accreditation status of the institution; 2) to file a third-party comment at the time of the institution's decennial review; 3) to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement.
- Note that normal inquiries about the institution, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to Roanoke College and not to the commission's office.
Additional Accreditations
- The Business Administration program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
- The Chemistry program is accredited by the American Chemical Society.
- The Biochemistry program is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- Roanoke College’s Education program is approved by the Virginia Board of Education and nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).