Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition
2025-2026 Tuition and Fees
Direct Costs
These items are directly charged by Randolph College. You will see these on your billing statements. This figure is before any financial aid (scholarships/grants, loans, etc.) is applied.
- Tuition: $567.86 per credit hour*
- MFA Student Fee: $350 (Each Semester)
- MFA Residency Fee**: $350 (Each Semester)
- Housing: $695 (Required, Winter Residency)
- Housing: $250 (Optional, Summer Residency)
- Graduation Residency Fee: $600 (During 5th Semester Residency Only)
* Students enrolled in the Masters in Fine Arts in Arts Leadership program typically take 14 credit hours a semester, which results in a $15,900 annual tuition cost. Two-Year Program Total = $36,000.
** Residency fee covers breakfast, lunch, and some activities.
Variable Expenses & Indirect Costs
These items are NOT charged by Randolph College and are other education-related expenses. These amounts are based on averages for students in the MFA program at Randolph College and can vary based on your needs.
- Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment: $300 (Each Semester)
- Transportation: $1,165 (Each Semester)
- Personal Expenses: $940 (Each Semester)
- Housing Allowance $6,250 (Each Semester)
- Food Allowance: $3,570 (Each Semester)
- Loan Fees: $108 – $204 (Each Semester, depends on loan type)
Scholarships & Financial Aid
The Randolph College MFA program is committed to supporting our students by developing grants and scholarships.
The limited scholarships available are awarded on a combination of merit and need, and with awareness that it is good for our community to maintain an aesthetically and socially diverse community of literary artists.
We provide a comprehensive program of financial assistance.
When applicants are admitted to the program and have completed their financial aid forms, the financial aid office reviews each student’s financial aid application and determines the assistance available.
All new MFA applicants who complete their FAFSA paperwork will be considered for financial aid and scholarships.
The most common form of assistance available to graduate students is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, from which qualifying students may borrow amounts covering the full cost of tuition, fees, and approved housing.
The FAFSA form, available at www.fafsa.ed.gov, is the first step in applying for federal aid.
The Randolph College federal code number is 003734.
To be considered for any grants or scholarships that are provided by the MFA program, students must complete the FAFSA form.
Helpful Links
Payment & Enrollment Options
Pay-as-you-go tuition: The College bills semester-by-semester based on credits taken—no lump-sum payments.
Employer support: Many candidates receive funding through employer tuition benefits or professional development stipends.
Financial aid:
- You may apply for federal loans (e.g., Stafford, Grad PLUS)
- Randolph College offers a limited number of need-based scholarships and grants
- Private scholarships and external fellowships are encouraged, with support provided by the College’s financial aid office
Comparative Value
Graduate tuition per credit (for reference):
- Typical MA or MS in Arts Administration: $600–$900
- On-campus MFA in Arts Leadership/Management: $700–$1,100
By comparison, Randolph’s MFA delivers a nationally unique, mentor-driven, low-residency program for a total cost that ranges from 15–40% lower than comparable full-residency degrees.
Return on Investment
Graduates emerge ready to lead at nonprofits, museums, performing arts venues, and government or cultural agencies. Common positions include:
- Executive or Artistic Director
- Development/Fundraising Director
- Cultural Policy Advocate
- Community Cultural Engagement Manager
The program supports career advancement and salary growth across arts leadership pathways. - Arts Entrepreneur
The program supports those seeking pathways to launch new arts organizations
Next Steps
Apply online – Submit deposit when accepted to reserve your spot
Plan residency logistics – Travel, housing options (if off-campus), and local transport
Financial aid counseling – Schedule a session with the College’s financial aid team to explore loan options, scholarships, and employer funding
What Happens at Residency
Residencies are dynamic, interdisciplinary experiences that include:
- Workshops and Seminars on cultural strategy, equity, financial resilience, organizational change, and more
- Case Studies and Simulations that model real-world scenarios faced by arts leaders
- Guest Speakers and Visiting Faculty from across the nonprofit, creative, and civic sectors
- Community-Based Site Visits to arts organizations in Virginia.
- Collaborative Projects and Peer Dialogue to foster reflection, experimentation, and collective growth
- Individual Mentorship Meetings to prepare for the semester’s professional project
Residencies serve as the creative and relational launchpad for the semester—connecting students with faculty, mentors, and one another in a way that supports meaningful progress throughout the term.
Residency Themes
Each residency focuses on a central theme that aligns with the program’s outcomes and reflects current trends and challenges in the field. Sample themes may include:
- Leading Through Change: Navigating Crisis, Growth, and Innovation
- Cultural Infrastructure: Building the Systems that Support the Arts
- From Transactional to Transformational: Values-Based Fundraising and Finance
- Community Power: Coalition Building and Collective Impact
Residency Format
Length: 5 days
Location: Randolph College, Lynchburg, Virginia
Schedule: Full-day sessions including evening activities and meals
Housing & Meals: Included in residency fees and arranged by the College
Travel: Students are responsible for travel to and from residency
Residency Goals
By the end of each residency, students will:
- Begin a new phase of mentorship and coursework with clarity and direction
- Deepen relationships with peers, faculty, and mentors
- Engage directly with current issues, tools, and practices in arts leadership
- Connect theory to lived practice through discussion, collaboration, and critique
- Reflect on their own leadership style and organizational context
Why It Matters
In a field that thrives on connection, imagination, and collective vision, the residency experience is more than just an academic requirement—it’s a vital space for transformation.
It’s where ideas meet action, and where a community of purpose-driven leaders take shape.
Each residency serves as a reminder that leadership is not a solitary act, but a shared practice rooted in trust, experimentation, and care.
Residency Themes
Each residency focuses on a central theme that aligns with the program’s outcomes and reflects current trends and challenges in the field. Sample themes may include:
- Leading Through Change: Navigating Crisis, Growth, and Innovation
- Cultural Infrastructure: Building the Systems that Support the Arts
- From Transactional to Transformational: Values-Based Fundraising and Finance
- Community Power: Coalition Building and Collective Impact
Residency Format
Length: 5 days
Location: Randolph College, Lynchburg, Virginia
Schedule: Full-day sessions including evening activities and meals
Housing & Meals: Included in residency fees and arranged by the College
Travel: Students are responsible for travel to and from residency
Residency Goals
By the end of each residency, students will:
- Begin a new phase of mentorship and coursework with clarity and direction
- Deepen relationships with peers, faculty, and mentors
- Engage directly with current issues, tools, and practices in arts leadership
- Connect theory to lived practice through discussion, collaboration, and critique
- Reflect on their own leadership style and organizational context
Why It Matters
In a field that thrives on connection, imagination, and collective vision, the residency experience is more than just an academic requirement—it’s a vital space for transformation.
It’s where ideas meet action, and where a community of purpose-driven leaders take shape.
Each residency serves as a reminder that leadership is not a solitary act, but a shared practice rooted in trust, experimentation, and care.
Summer and Winter
Students apply to begin their MFA program in either a summer or winter residency.
- Summer Residency sessions are housed on Randolph College’s campus.
- Winter Residency sessions are housed off-campus.
Randolph College’s Campus
Located in the heart of Virginia, our 100-acre campus is in an historic, residential area of Lynchburg, close to the James River, and within walking distance to several restaurants and cafes.
Randolph is ranked #19 in the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition and was one of 31 colleges on the Princeton Review’s 2023 Green Honor Roll for earning a perfect sustainability score.
Schedule
2026-2027 Academic Year
Winter 2026 Residency
January 8-14, 2026
Summer 2026 Residency
June 5-14, 2026
