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Randolph College · Virginia

Randolph College scholarships and merit aid

Randolph College's WildCat Commitment guarantees every FAFSA-filing first-year at least $14,000 in institutional aid plus a GPA-based add-on of up to $5,000, with a separate competitive full-tuition Presidential Scholarship on top of the menu.

Verified Jul 20262 months ago

The short answer

Is Randolph College worth a closer look?

Randolph College awards automatic merit on admission. Randolph College does not publish a GPA or test chart, so you cannot self-calculate the dollars.

Merit tiers63 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

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Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

At least $14,000…At least $14,000 (plus up to $5,000 more based on GPA)

The WildCat Commitment (first-year students)

Based on grades or scoresCan continue
GPA
GPA add-on chart: 4.0 or higher = $5,000; 3.5 = $4,000; 3.25 = $3,000; 3.0 = $2,000
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Must be a first-year student who files the FAFSA

How to keep it

General scholarships-page statement: "If you maintain satisfactory progress toward your Randolph College degree, your awards will be renewed for your second, third, and fourth year." The WildCat page itself only says "*Subject to annual tuition, housing and food increases."

Notes

The $14,000 floor is described as a combination of merit scholarships, need-based grants, and other incentives (a $1,000 FAFSA Filing Grant is listed on the scholarships page as 'included in WildCat Commitment'). The GPA add-on is on top of the $14,000.

Source

At least $10,000…At least $10,000 (plus up to $2,000 more based on GPA; Virginia residents can receive an additional $2,000)

The WildCat Commitment to Transfer Students

Based on grades or scoresCan continue
GPA
Chart: $12,000 for GPA 3.5 or higher; $11,000 for GPA 3.2 to 3.49; $10,000 for GPA 3.2 or below
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Transfer student who files the FAFSA; additional $2,000 for Virginia residents

How to keep it

General scholarships-page statement: awards renewed for second, third, and fourth year with satisfactory progress.

Notes

Page frames the maximum as 'over 30% off your first-year costs' for transfers who maximize the commitment.

Source

At least $14,000…At least $14,000 (plus up to $5,000 more based on GPA)

The WildCat Commitment to International Students

Based on grades or scoresCan continue
GPA
Chart: 3.75 or higher = $5,000; 3.5 = $4,000; 3.25 = $3,000; 3.0 = $2,000
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

International student (no FAFSA filing condition is stated on this page)

How to keep it

General scholarships-page statement: awards renewed for second, third, and fourth year with satisfactory progress.

Notes

The international GPA chart tops out at 3.75 (vs. 4.0 on the domestic first-year chart).

Source

Full tuition

The Presidential Scholarship

Apply separately
GPA
Competitive applications will reflect a high school GPA of at least 3.80 (weighted) with a challenging curriculum
SAT
Test-optional; scores may be offered to enhance the application
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

1-3 page double-spaced writing sample OR 3-5 minute presentation; at least two non-familial letters of recommendation; semi-finalists must complete an on-campus interview with the scholarship committee

Notes

Tuition-only award for select first-year applicants. It REPLACES all other institutional scholarships and grants from Randolph College — it does not stack. For fall 2026 entry the submission deadline was January 26, 2026 (winners announced week of March 1, 2026). Applicants may also receive consideration for the Global Scholars initiative.

Source

First-Year LEAP Tuition: no more th…First-Year LEAP Tuition: no more than $17,300 (vs. published 2026-2027 tuition of $32,300)

LEAP – Local Educational Access Program

Apply separately
See who qualifies
Who qualifies

Resident of Lynchburg City or the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, or Nelson; must file the FAFSA and make an official visit to campus

Notes

A residency-based tuition-rate program, not a named scholarship dollar amount. The $17,300 cap does not include the estimated Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant of $5,250, and LEAP Housing and Food is billed at $13,250 (not discounted).

Source

Amount not published…Amount not published (all accepted students receive scholarships covering the $4,112 Summer Transition Program; some participants receive additional academic scholarships)

SUPER (Step-Up to Physical Science and Engineering at Randolph College) STEM Scholarships

Apply separatelyCan continue
GPA
Minimum 3.0 GPA
SAT
Minimum 500 math SAT (if no score, a grade of B or better in Algebra II)
ACT
Minimum 18 math ACT (if no score, a grade of B or better in Algebra II)
See who qualifies and how to keep it
Who qualifies

Must plan to major in science or mathematics; completion of a math course beyond Algebra II; SUPER Supplemental Application; FAFSA for additional need-based scholarship qualification (U.S. citizens); 24 students chosen; scholarship priority deadline March 1, final program deadline May 1

How to keep it

Eligibility requirements will continue throughout the four years of College including participation in beneficial program activities, GPA minimum, choice of major, and submission of FAFSA.

Notes

NSF S-STEM funded program. Additional academic scholarships are based on merit and qualifications that include demonstrated financial need.

Source

See what could change an award

Rules that could change the answer

These are the rules we would flag for your family. Each comes from Randolph College's published information.

  • Outside awardsNo published displacement order

    Randolph College's policy doesn't specify whether outside scholarships hit loans, grants, or only the COA ceiling. Get a written aid-office answer before chasing private awards.

What families often miss

  1. The application page states it is "a tuition-only scholarship which replaces all other institutional scholarships and grants offered by Randolph College." Winning it means giving up the WildCat Commitment and every other Randolph scholarship/grant — it is full tuition, not full tuition plus.

  2. It is explicitly tuition-only. Housing and food ($12,990 in 2025-26; LEAP page lists $13,250 housing/food), technology, activity, and insurance fees are not covered.

  3. The $14,000 first-year minimum (and $10,000 transfer minimum) applies to students 'who file the FAFSA.' The scholarships page also lists a $1,000 FAFSA Filing Grant included in the WildCat Commitment. No FAFSA, no guarantee.

  4. Every WildCat Commitment chart carries the footnote "*Subject to annual tuition, housing and food increases," and renewal of awards requires maintaining "satisfactory progress toward your Randolph College degree" — the pages do not publish a specific renewal GPA.

  5. The scholarships page warns: "Many of the above scholarships are only awarded to incoming students." Current students must contact the financial aid office.

  6. The $17,300 first-year LEAP tuition cap applies only to students from Lynchburg City or Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, and Nelson counties who file the FAFSA AND make an official campus visit; it excludes the ~$5,250 VTAG and does not discount the $13,250 housing and food charge.

  7. The top WildCat add-on tier is 4.0+ GPA for domestic first-years but 3.75+ for international students — the charts are different.

  8. For fall 2026 entry the deadline was January 26, 2026 (winners announced week of March 1, 2026); the scholarships page says 2027 applications open November 2026 with a January 2027 deadline. This is an application-required competition — admission alone does not enter you.

  9. SUPER requires majoring in science or mathematics, demonstrated financial need via an annually submitted FAFSA (for the additional scholarships), and 'Eligibility requirements will continue throughout the four years of College including participation in beneficial program activities, GPA minimum, choice of major, and submission of FAFSA.'

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Strong-GPA students who file the FAFSA do best here — a 4.0 GPA maximizes the WildCat Commitment add-on, and a 3.80+ weighted GPA opens the door to the competitive full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. Local students from Lynchburg and five surrounding counties can access a steeply discounted LEAP tuition rate.

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Randolph College, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Randolph College, academic year 2021-22
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$13,048
$30,001–$48,000$13,709
$48,001–$75,000$16,290
$75,001–$110,000$18,260
$110,001+$19,590
All income levels (average)$15,921

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Total cost of attendance (sticker), AY 2021-22
$45,040
Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$30,310
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$15,921

That works out to an average 65% discount off the sticker price above — both figures come from the same federal AY 2021-22 Scorecard report, not a number the school itself published.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
46%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
75%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$26,950 (~$286/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$53,409
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
48%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
60%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

The only stacking rule published on the pages reviewed concerns the Presidential Scholarship: it is tuition-only and replaces ALL other institutional scholarships and grants from Randolph College. The WildCat Commitment is itself described as a combination of merit scholarships, need-based grants, and other incentives, and the smaller named awards (Alumni Referral, Campus Visit Grant, FAFSA Filing Grant, etc.) are listed alongside it without an explicit combination rule. How outside/private scholarships are treated is not stated anywhere on the pages reviewed.

Presidential Scholarship: "a tuition-only scholarship which replaces all other institutional scholarships and grants offered by Randolph College." No published policy was found on outside-scholarship displacement, COA caps, or loan-first/grant-first reduction order. The financial-aid Policies page only links to the Academic Catalog and federal policy documents.

Source

Other Randolph College scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

Amount$1,000EligibilityRequires an Alumni Referral form completed by an alumnus of the College

Annual amount; generally for incoming students.

Source

Amount$1,000EligibilityRequires the student to experience an official campus visit as determined by their admission counselor

Annual amount.

Source

AmountUp to $1,000EligibilityRequires e-Sport experience and willingness to join the Randolph e-Sports Team

Source

Amount$1,000EligibilityEligible students who file a FAFSA

Listed as 'included in WildCat Commitment'.

Source

AmountUp to $2,000EligibilityRequires a portfolio or audition (for performing arts)

Source

AmountUp to $3,000EligibilityBy invite only; requires an interview with a Randolph professor

Source

AmountUp to $2,000EligibilityRequires the Museum & Heritage Studies Scholarship application and a compelling essay

Source

Amount$2,000 - $3,000EligibilityAdmitted students transferring from NVCC; domestic students up to $2,000, international (F-1) students up to $3,000

Source

Amount$2,000EligibilityMember of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society transferring to Randolph College

Source

Amount$2,500EligibilityRequires a Richmond Alumni Referral form completed by a Richmond area alumni

Source

Amount$1,000-$2,500EligibilityHistory of social justice and community service engagement plus financial need as determined by the College; separate Community Fellows Application

Recipients must complete 20 hours of community service per semester.

Source

Amount$2,000EligibilityAdmitted students transferring from Central Virginia Community College or Germanna Community College

Source

Amount$2,000 per year total ($1,000 Beacon of Hope + $1,000 Randolph match)EligibilityGraduates of E. C. Glass High School and Heritage High School in Lynchburg

Beacon of Hope is an outside sponsor; Randolph matches its $1,000 award. 58 Randolph students received it in 2025-26.

Source

AmountAmount not published (provides funding for international travel)EligibilityHighly selective; first-year students; Presidential Scholarship applicants may also receive consideration

Experiential travel program, not a tuition scholarship. First cohort traveled to Sri Lanka in May 2025.

Source

Randolph College merit aid FAQ

  • What is the Presidential Scholarship deadline?

    For students entering fall 2026, the submission deadline was January 26, 2026, with winners announced the week of March 1, 2026. The scholarships page states 2027 Presidential Applications will open November 2026 with a submission deadline of January 2027 and winners announced March 2027.

  • Is the Presidential Scholarship a full ride?

    No. Randolph states it is "a tuition-only scholarship which replaces all other institutional scholarships and grants offered by Randolph College." Housing, food, and fees are not covered.

  • Do I have to apply separately for the WildCat Commitment?

    No separate scholarship application is described. Every first-year student who files the FAFSA receives at least $14,000, and the GPA-based add-on ($2,000-$5,000 for GPAs of 3.0 to 4.0+) is awarded from your GPA. Filing the FAFSA is the stated condition for domestic students.

  • What do transfer students get?

    Every transfer student who files the FAFSA receives at least $10,000; the GPA chart awards $12,000 for a 3.5+, $11,000 for 3.2-3.49, and $10,000 for 3.2 or below, and Virginia-resident transfers can receive an additional $2,000. NVCC transfers can get a $2,000-$3,000 grant, VCCS (Central Virginia CC or Germanna CC) transfers $2,000, and Phi Theta Kappa members $2,000.

  • Are scholarships renewable?

    The scholarships page states: "If you maintain satisfactory progress toward your Randolph College degree, your awards will be renewed for your second, third, and fourth year." No specific renewal GPA is published; WildCat charts note amounts are "Subject to annual tuition, housing and food increases."

  • How are outside (private) scholarships treated?

    Randolph's pages encourage students to pursue outside scholarships and even match the Lynchburg Beacon of Hope $1,000 award, but no policy on whether outside scholarships reduce institutional or need-based aid was published on the pages reviewed. Ask the financial aid office directly (434-947-8128).

  • What does Randolph College cost?

    For 2025-2026, published direct costs were $44,736 (tuition $30,670; housing and food $12,990; technology fee $560; activity fee $360; accident insurance $156). The LEAP page lists 2026-2027 tuition alone at $32,300. A full 2026-2027 direct-cost total had not been published on the tuition page as of June 7, 2026.

See sources and other schools

How Randolph College compares

  • 133 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use unclear or unpublished displacement.

    Randolph College is in a recognizable cluster (133 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 133 of 749 verified schools publish no clear displacement order.

    Randolph College is one of them. The right move is the aid-office email script below, not a guess.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Randolph College is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Randolph College’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

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