Education at Randolph College

A $27,000 debt load paired with $38,660 in estimated first-year earnings puts this program right in line with national norms for education bachelor's degrees—but the Virginia context tells a more complicated story. While comparable education programs nationally produce similar outcomes, Virginia's median for teacher preparation sits lower at $32,426, with most programs in the state carrying significantly higher debt burdens (median $42,160). If these estimates hold, Randolph graduates would be entering the field with both better earning potential and more manageable debt than the typical Virginia education graduate.

The 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests a workable financial start, particularly for a field where salaries grow steadily with experience and where loan forgiveness programs exist for qualifying teachers. However, with 41% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on these numbers to materialize. The wide-open admission policy means Randolph is accessible, but parents should verify the school's teacher licensure pass rates and job placement support—factors that matter enormously in education but don't show up in this data.

Given the small cohort size that led to data suppression, connect directly with Randolph's education department about actual graduate outcomes before committing. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value compared to other Virginia options, but for a career as credential-dependent as teaching, you need confidence in the program's track record.