Roanoke College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Roanoke College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 75%. Founded in 1842, Roanoke College is located on an 80-acre campus in Salem, Virginia, eight miles from downtown Roanoke. The college offers 101 areas of study, a 13-to-1 student/faculty ratio, and an average class size of 18. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Roanoke College was awarded a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. On the athletic front, The Roanoke Maroons compete in the NCAA Division III Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Considering applying to Roanoke College? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Roanoke College had an acceptance rate of 75%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 75 students were admitted, making Roanoke's admissions process somewhat competitive.

In 2019, Roanoke College became test-optional for all applicants. Students applying to Roanoke may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 83% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2017-18 admissions cycle, most of Roanoke College's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Roanoke College scored between 530 and 630, while 25% scored below 530 and 25% scored above 630. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 510 and 600, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 600. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1230 or higher is competitive for Roanoke College.

Roanoke College does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Roanoke participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Roanoke does not require the essay section of the SAT.

In 2019, Roanoke College became test-optional for all applicants. Students applying to Roanoke may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 31% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2017-18 admissions cycle, most of Roanoke's admitted students fall within the top 36% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Roanoke College received a composite ACT score between 22 and 27, while 25% scored above 27 and 25% scored below 22.

Roanoke College does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, Roanoke does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. The optional ACT writing section is not required by Roanoke College.

In 2019, the average high school GPA of Roanoke College's incoming freshmen class was 3.38. This data suggests that most successful applicants to Roanoke College have primarily B grades.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Roanoke College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Roanoke College, which accepts three-quarters of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool with above average grades and test scores. However, Roanoke also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on more than numbers. A strong optional application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Roanoke recommends interviews for interested applicants. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Roanoke College's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of successful applicants had high school GPAs of "B" or better, combined SAT scores of about 1000 or higher (ERW+M), and ACT composite scores of 20 or better.

• James Madison University
• College of William & Mary
• George Mason University
• Elon University
• High Point University
• Gettysburg College
• University of Richmond
• University of Mary Washington
• Old Dominion University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Roanoke College Undergraduate Admissions Office.