About Randolph

Randolph College prepares students to engage the world critically and creatively, live and work honorably, and experience life abundantly.

Randolph College is a nationally recognized, private, liberal arts and sciences institution with a career focus located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Founded in 1891 as Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Randolph is known for its excellent academic program, diverse close-knit community, exceptional faculty, rich traditions, and growing NCAA D III athletics program.

Randolph is consistently recognized by the leading national guidebooks as one of the best liberal arts institutions in the nation. The College was one of just 75 private schools in the nation—and one of only two in Virginia—named a Best Value by The Princeton Review. Newsweek ranked Randolph number one of all schools in the in the nation for “Most Accessible Professors,” and the College is included in the top tier of schools in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2012 edition. The Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2012 edition, gave Randolph high praise for the rigor of its academic programs, naming it one of the nation’s “best and most interesting” colleges. Randolph is one of just 12 institutions from Virginia and 330 nationally to be recognized. The Fiske profile touted Randolph’s strong academic programs, faculty/student relationships, close community, and international focus.

The College’s rich academic program offers students a choice from more than 50 majors and minors. The College also offers many popular pre-professional programs in engineering, nursing, law, medicine, and veterinary studies. The teacher licensure program is enhanced by two graduate degree programs in education. The creation of the Center for Ancient Drama and the Center for Student Research will ensure that Randolph best leverages two of its traditional strengths and points of differentiation: original and innovative student research and scholarship and the unique student experience associated with the production of the Greek Play and the internationally-recognized scholarly journal Didaskalia. In addition, Randolph’s competitive and funded Summer Research Program allows students to spend eight intensive weeks collaborating with faculty members. The program includes all disciplines across campus and offers students opportunities to present findings at professional conferences and/or to publish results in professional journals.

In addition to an established and well-respected student-run Honor System that permeates all aspects of campus life, Randolph College is home to 18 academic honor societies, including one of the oldest charters of Phi Beta Kappa in the nation and the fifth chapter granted in the state of Virginia. The College also offers the specialized Davenport Leadership Program and ample opportunities for involvement.

With more than 45 student clubs and organizations, Randolph College offers ample opportunity for involvement and leadership. Student leadership is in integral part of campus life, and students are offered opportunities for leadership positions as early as their first year. The competitive Davenport Leadership Program provides students with an opportunity to learn and build attributes that have long been associated with leaders: self-awareness, communication, critical thinking, self-confidence, initiative, motivation, conflict management, goal setting, working in teams, and problem solving. The program helps students to understand the connections between their academic work, social and co-curricular choices, and their participation in community service. Whether it is serving as a student-docent at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, performing in the many theatre, dance or music programs, serving in Student Government, working in the College’s student-run Organic Garden or for the student radio station, or taking part in one of the many other clubs on campus, students are able to pursue their passions outside of the classroom.

The College also offers 13 NCAA Division III athletic teams in addition to riding. The College’s athletic facilities include a field and track facility and a 100-acre equestrian center. In 2012, Randolph announced the creation of a new track and field team, which will begin competing in 2013-14.

Randolph’s graduates enter the workforce or graduate school prepared to succeed. The employment rate of Randolph’s graduates exceeds the national average and the College ranks in the top 14 percent of all colleges and universities nationwide whose graduates go on to earn PhDs. Randolph’s graduates are accepted into top graduate and professional programs. Examples include Stanford, Cornell, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Oxford University (UK), Medical University of South Carolina, and law programs at Boston University and George Washington University.

Located in the heart of Virginia, Randolph’s picturesque 100-acre campus in an historic, residential area of Lynchburg features the best of traditional, brick buildings and pathways and exciting new facilities such as WildCat Stadium and the newly renovated Student Center. One of the more unique aspects of campus is the Mabel K. Whiteside Greek Theatre. Situated in “The Dell,” the Greek theatre was built to offer classic students the opportunity to produce ancient drama in a realistic setting modeled after the Greek theatres of Greece. In addition to these productions, The Dell is the setting for numerous events throughout the year including Commencement. Randolph also offers a 100-acre riding center just a few minutes from campus. The riding center features two outdoor rings, a jumping amphitheatre, a schooling ring, The Claire Noyes Cox indoor arena, and a modern 40-stall barn that is home to more than 30 quality, school-owned horses.

Randolph’s location in the growing city of Lynchburg provides close access to shopping, entertainment, and recreational and cultural opportunities. The College is within easy driving distance of major cities including Washington, D.C., Richmond, and Virginia Beach and easy access is available to public transportation, including an Amtrak station and a regional airport.