Roanoke at a Glance

Roanoke College is an independent, co-educational, 4-year liberal arts college. Founded in 1842, we are the second-oldest Lutheran-related college in America. We seek and welcome students of all races, creeds, nationalities and ethnic origins.

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Fast Facts

  • Approximately 2,000 full-time students
  • From 43 states and 31 countries
  • 101 areas of study, including majors, minors, concentrations and pre-professional programs 
  • Unique areas of study: 93 (including digital literacy credential & teacher licensure) 
  • Programs of Study: 118 (including digital literacy credential & teacher licensure)
  • Majors, Minors, Concentrations and Pre-Prof Programs:116
  • 13:1 student teacher ratio
  • 21 varsity teams, 14 club teams and a robust intramural sports program
  • 140+ clubs and organizations
  • $33,510 tuition, $15,366 room & board
  • More than 85% of students receive financial aid
  • $34,000+ average scholarship and aid package for FAFSA filers

Recognition

  • #4 US News & World Report's Up-and-coming National Liberal Arts Colleges
  • Top 7%--one of only 290 institutions with academic credentials to house a Phi Beta Kappa honor society chapter
  • Top 9% The Princeton Review's Best 381 Colleges
  • Top 10% Forbes magazine's "America's Best Colleges"

Location

  • In the heart of historic Salem VA (Pop. 25,000)
  • 10 minutes from the city of Roanoke VA (metro area approximately 300,000); consistently ranked one of the most livable cities in America
  • Direct air service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
  • 10 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail; 1 mile from the Roanoke River

Campus & Facilities

  • 80-acre campus
  • Ranked among top 20 most beautiful campuses in 2012 by The Princeton Review
  • More than 10% of campus buildings are on the Virginia and National Historic registers

Student Body

  • Approximately 2,000 full-time students
  • 59% female, 41% male
  • 78% live on campus

Faculty

  • 131 tenure-track faculty
  • 95% hold highest degree possible in their field
  • Includes graduates of Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, UVA and Yale

Academics

  • 48 majors, 29 minors and 27 concentrations and 12 pre-professional programs
  • 18 students in average class; 94% have fewer than 30
  • Unique core curriculum replaces typical introductory courses found at most colleges
  • Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Elementary and secondary teacher licensure
  • Honors program
  • Extensive real-world learning opportunities, including:
  • Pre-professional programs: athletic training, dentistry, dual-degree engineering, law, medicine, ministry, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician's assistant, social work, and veterinary medicine
  • Foreign languages available: 10 (3 with degree paths) including Ancient Greek, Chinese (Mandarin), English as a second language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian and Spanish

Student Life

  • 100+ clubs
  • 5 fraternities, 4 sororities
  • 10 multi-cultural groups and religious organizations

Athletics

  • 21 NCAA teams
  • Compete in NCAA Division III
  • 24 Intramural and Club sports
  • Extensive Outdoor Adventures program

Community Service

  • Freshman Service Day during orientation
  • Service programs benefit local schools, Habitat for Humanity, Family Promise, Rescue Mission, West End Center for Youth, plus many other programs throughout the year

Alumni

  • 16,744 graduates living in almost every state and across the world in almost 50 different foreign countries
  • 12 Alumni chapters

Accreditation

  • Roanoke College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award 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.
  • 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).

National Center for Education Statistics - College Navigator

Historical and Cultural Virtual Tour

As it is with any historic institution, Roanoke College's past is tied to its present and future. Thanks to this new and immersive virtual tour, it's easier than ever to learn about the history and culture of the College. You'll take a journey through nearly 180 years of history, including major events, the evolution of buildings on campus, the artwork we have on campus, how student life has changed over the years, and the groundbreaking research that's leading to important discussions about our past.

"Roanoke College is a treasure, and when you have a treasure, you want to share it with other people," President Michael C. Maxey said about the tour.

Click the button below to open our treasure chest.

Begin the Tour