Peter's Hidden Gem Series #14: Randolph College (VA)
FACTS ABOUT RANDOLPH COLLEGE (VA)
Randolph College is a private liberal arts and sciences college located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Lynchburg Metro Area (260,000 population) is conveniently located within a 2- to 3.5-hour driving radius of several major national and regional metropolitan hubs (Greensboro, Charlotte, Roanoke, and Washington DC to mention a few). The 100-acre Randolph College campus is located in a quiet, residential neighborhood of Lynchburg.
One of the most unique aspects of Randolph College is the structure of its academic calendar:
From their website:
“Randolph’s innovative TAKE2 model is a better design for the way students learn and live—both in today’s world and tomorrow’s.
“The central idea of TAKE2 is built into its name: Randolph students take two classes at a time for seven-week sessions, instead of four or more courses per semester.
“Why it works: By allowing students to focus on two classes at a time, rather than spreading their attention across four or more courses, TAKE2 improves learning and offers greater opportunities inside and outside the classroom.
“TAKE2…
fosters a more intensive academic experience and enables faculty and students to dive more deeply into course material.
provides faculty with more time for academic support to help students conquer particularly difficult concepts or explore newly discovered passions.
allows students to take greater advantage of the many resume-building extracurricular opportunities that Randolph offers, including dance and theatre performances, internships, research projects, jobs, community service, clubs, athletics, and more.
“This revolutionary approach to learning not only sets Randolph apart from other liberal arts colleges, it creates a distinctive college experience designed to better meet the needs of 21st-century students.
“With TAKE2, you’ll graduate in the same amount of time as you would with a traditional model, but you’ll have more time to dig deep into your academics while exploring your passions and interests.”
Randolph College has approximately 800 total undergraduate students, with 575 of them living in campus housing. Including part-time and graduate students, Randolph has close to 1,000 students.
Randolph College offers 43 undergraduate majors and 50 minors. The most popular programs are: Sport and Exericse Studies (Kinesiology), Biology (pre-professional), Psychology, Business, History, English, Creative Writing, Elementary Education, Data Analytics, Communication Studies, Environmental Studies, Criminology, Sustainability, Art, Music, and Theatre. They have recently added Cybersecurity, Cognitive Science, and Mechanical Engineering. They are actively pursuing ABET accreditation for Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering Technology.
The acceptance rate at Randolph College is 94%. It considers a wide range of students (C+ to A+).
2026-2027 Fees:
Expense Category Cost Per Semester Cost Per Year
Tuition $16,875 $33,750
Housing & Food $6,950 $13,850
Misc Student Fees $673 $1,346
Total Direct Sticker Price $24,498 $48,996
However…
After merit scholarships (that average over $18K), most families (even families that do not qualify for need-based assistance) pay less than $26K without loans. In fact, including students who receive need-based aid, the average amount that students pay, without loans, is less than $22K. This is a financially stable college (Forbes gives them an A for financial strength). Their endowment is close to $200 million.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS:
MUSEUM & HERITAGE STUDIES
From their website:
“Students develop practical skills in this unique, interdisciplinary pre-professional major centered on hands-on experiences and direct work with collections.
“Based on Randolph College’s world-class Maier Museum of Art and the College’s notable natural history, archaeology, and ancient collections, students learn fresh perspectives about the role of museums and public history sites.
“The Center for Career Development connects students to internships and fieldwork with professional organizations in the US and abroad, including the Preservation Institute Nantucket and the Archaeological Conservation Institute (Italy).
“Graduates emerge equipped with the knowledge and experience for careers in interpreting and presenting visual and material culture.”
ROBOTICS & MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING
From their website:
“Mechatronics is an emerging interdisciplinary engineering field that includes mechanics, electronics, computing, and systems. In fact, the word mechatronics is a combination of mechanical and electronics. Robotics is a subset of mechatronics focusing on applied systems to design, build, and operate smart machines.
“Why Study Robotics and Mechatronics at Randolph? The interdisciplinary nature of the program gives majors a solid foundation in engineering, computer science, physics, and mathematics.
“The liberal arts emphasis of Randolph College will teach majors to think critically, reason logically, and communicate effectively, preparing them for leadership roles in the field.
“Hands-on experience with actual robots begins on day one. While large universities boast massive labs, most of their undergraduates will never set foot in them. Randolph professors work closely with students to create hands-on and research experiences that fits their vision.
“Every major industry including telecommunications, agriculture, transportation, biotechnology, automobile, national security, and renewable energy relies heavily on mechatronics.
“Randolph graduates will enter the field prepared not only to excel in their first job, but to advance toward management and future-proof their skills through continual learning.” [Note: Randolph College is actively pursuing ABET accreditation]
Some other majors and minors at Randolph that are not found at many small colleges include Chemical Physics, Cognitive Science, Comparative Philosophy, Marine Science, and Editing.
Website: https://www.randolphcollege.edu/
Link to their virtual tour information:
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