Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Randolph College

A $26,000 debt load for a bachelor's degree that yields first-year earnings around $41,000 is relatively manageable—a 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can reasonably handle their loan payments. However, these figures come from comparable Virginia programs, not Randolph's actual outcomes, which weren't reported due to small graduate sample sizes. The estimated earnings align with the state median for liberal arts programs but trail significantly behind what graduates from James Madison, Bridgewater, and Longwood typically earn in their first year.

The real concern isn't necessarily the debt burden but the earnings ceiling. Similar programs in Virginia suggest starting salaries that, while matching the state median, fall well below what students achieve at other liberal arts colleges nearby. This matters particularly given Randolph's 95% admission rate and 41% Pell grant enrollment—this is a school serving students who may have fewer family resources to fall back on if early career earnings disappoint.

For families weighing this investment, the key question is whether Randolph's specific outcomes justify the cost compared to alternatives. The estimated figures suggest typical performance for Virginia liberal arts programs, but without actual graduate data, you're essentially betting that Randolph matches its peers rather than underperforms them. If your student has options at schools with reported outcomes—especially those showing $45,000+ earnings—those programs offer more certainty about return on investment.