Randolph College's First Coed Class Exceeds Expectations

LYNCHBURG — Randolph College’s first coed class is expected to exceed expectations, according to information released by college officials on Wednesday.

The college was able to meet its key goals by maintaining its diversity and academic standards, enrolling a class size comparable to last year at this time, and also lowering the average tuition discount rate (scholarships and financial aid) offered to students. The goals were met while enduring a year of challenges, including a switch to coeducation, a delayed start to recruiting and a name change.

Lowering the tuition discount rate is instrumental in providing an increase in net tuition revenue. The college plans to continue balancing the need to keep its education affordable while lowering the tuition discount it provides to students. As of May 18, the average rate is 55.1 percent compared with last year’s final rate of 68.5 percent. Comparing discount rates for women and men, the two are almost identical, with a slightly higher rate just now for women. All students, including male and female and student-athletes, are treated equally with regard to admission and financial assistance.

The college plans to offer four new intercollegiate sports teams for men (basketball, soccer, tennis and cross country) and one new intercollegiate sport for women (cross country) this year. The College will also welcome men to its current IHSA riding program. A NCAA Division III institution, Randolph College may not award athletic scholarships.

The Randolph College Admissions Office has specific plans in place to meet the long-term enrollment goal of 1,100 students. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining the College’s traditional academic standards and distinctive global honors programs.

A few facts about the first-year class:

• Includes 53 male first-year students and, with 4 male transfer students, men represent almost 32 percent of the incoming students.
• Includes 172 total first-year students compared with 179 students at this time last year.
• The average tuition discount rate for this year is 55.1 percent as of this date compared with last year’s final figure of 68.5 percent.
• The average tuition discount rate for women and men is nearly the same.
• 91 percent of the first-year class is in the top 50 percent of their class compared with 87 percent last year.
• 22 percent of the students are minority compared with 18 percent last year.
• About 12 percent of the students are international, as was the case at this time last year.
• 23 of the male students are athletes.
• The middle 50 percent range for SAT scores in critical reading and math is 1030-1260 compared with 1020-1270 last year.
• The average high school grade point average for incoming first-years is 3.3 compared with 3.4 last year.
• 75 percent of students are from public schools compared with 79 percent last year.
• 24 percent of students are from private schools compared with 19 percent last year.
• This year, the top states in recruitment include: Virginia, Maryland, California, North Carolina, New Jerseyand Texas compared with Virginia, Maryland, Texas, North Carolina, California, Florida and New York last year.