Business/Commerce at Randolph College

Randolph College's business program graduates earn $35,971 in their first year—roughly $16,000 less than the typical Virginia business graduate and $11,500 below the national median. Among the 16 colleges offering business degrees in Virginia, this ranks in just the 10th percentile. To put that in perspective, graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University and Randolph-Macon College start at around $51,000, while even online-focused programs like Strayer deliver $55,000. The small graduating class (under 30 students) means these figures could swing significantly year to year, but the gap is too large to dismiss.

The $25,000 debt load is manageable in isolation, but paired with below-average earnings, it translates to a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates carry debt equivalent to 70% of their first-year salary. That's not catastrophic, but it's tight for someone starting at $36,000. Parents should understand that business degrees typically offer strong earning potential, but this program significantly underperforms both state and national norms. If your child is considering Randolph for its small-college environment or other programs, that's one thing. But if business outcomes are the priority, the data suggests looking at other Virginia options where starting salaries run $15,000+ higher.