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Randolph College scholarships and merit aid

The short answer

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

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
8 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

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The award collection

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.

Where does your student land?

  1. The WildCat Commitment (first-year students)At least $14,000 (plus up to $5,000 more based on GPA)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    The WildCat Commitment (first-year students)

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

    Variable or qualified amountAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    GPA add-on chart: 4.0 or higher = $5,000; 3.5 = $4,000; 3.25 = $3,000; 3.0 = $2,000
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for The WildCat Commitment (first-year students)

    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."

    Worth knowing

    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.

  2. The WildCat Commitment to Transfer StudentsAt least $10,000 (plus up to $2,000 more based on GPA; Virginia residents can receive an additional $2,000)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    The WildCat Commitment to Transfer Students

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

    Variable or qualified amountAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    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
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for The WildCat Commitment to Transfer Students

    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.

    Worth knowing

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

  3. The WildCat Commitment to International StudentsAt least $14,000 (plus up to $5,000 more based on GPA)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    The WildCat Commitment to International Students

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

    Variable or qualified amountAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Chart: 3.75 or higher = $5,000; 3.5 = $4,000; 3.25 = $3,000; 3.0 = $2,000
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for The WildCat Commitment to International Students

    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.

    Worth knowing

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

  4. The Presidential ScholarshipFull tuitionNot automatic
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    The Presidential Scholarship

    Full tuition

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    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
    Open award details for The Presidential Scholarship

    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

    Worth knowing

    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.

  5. LEAP – Local Educational Access ProgramFirst-Year LEAP Tuition: no more than $17,300 (vs. published 2026-2027 tuition of $32,300)Not automatic
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    LEAP – Local Educational Access Program

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

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    Open award details for LEAP – Local Educational Access Program

    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

    Worth knowing

    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).

  6. SUPER (Step-Up to Physical Science and Engineering at Randolph College) STEM ScholarshipsAmount not published (all accepted students receive scholarships covering the $4,112 Summer Transition Program; some participants receive additional academic scholarships)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

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

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

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    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)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for SUPER (Step-Up to Physical Science and Engineering at Randolph College) STEM Scholarships

    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.

    Worth knowing

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

Lights up against Randolph College's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office. Award terms and residency rules change; some awards differ for in-state and out-of-state students. Always confirm at the school’s source page.

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  • “it told me what to ask and what the renewal GPA looked like, which I was not going to find on my own”Melissa

The fine print

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 makes Randolph College different

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.

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

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Randolph College's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

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

Keep exploring Randolph College merit aid

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