Acceptance Rate
68%
Avg. SAT
1340
75th percentile
“Hollins University invites ambitious women to a tight-knit Virginia liberal arts haven where creative writing and equestrian pursuits flourish amid the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Roanoke, VA
Location
Midsize Suburb
Campus Setting
You'll step into Hollins University's world in Roanoke, Virginia—a midsize suburban city nestled against the Blue Ridge Mountains—where this private women's college has empowered undergraduates since 1842, making it the first chartered women's institution in the state. Founded as Valley Union Seminary on the Hollins family farm and renamed after generous donors John and Jessee Hollins, it evolved into a university while holding fast to its all-women undergraduate core (grad programs welcome men). Creative souls, horseback riders, and independent thinkers thrive here in a supportive sisterhood that prioritizes personal growth over cutthroat competition; you can expect professors who know your name from day one in classes capped at 20. But tradeoffs loom: with just 731 undergrads, the all-single-sex vibe skips co-ed romance and big-party energy, and Roanoke's quieter arts-and-outdoors scene (think hiking Mill Mountain or catching a local ballet) suits nature lovers more than urban thrill-seekers.
Photo Gallery
+35
+27
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Hollins' classrooms, you'll dive into intimate seminars where the 8:1 student-faculty ratio means your English prof might workshop your novel alongside Pulitzer-nominated guidance. The creative writing program stands out, churning out published authors through the renowned Hollins Creative Writing Program, while equestrian studies lets you train horses on campus fields, and interdisciplinary majors like women's studies or environmental science blend hands-on projects with mountain fieldwork. Research opportunities abound early, like summer grants for film theses shot in Roanoke studios. Yet, the small scale limits niche electives—physics or engineering? Look elsewhere—and while more selective than 60% of U.S. colleges at 72% acceptance, the 62% six-year grad rate reflects students who must self-motivate amid fewer resources than larger peers.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
665 undergrad • 96 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
63%
Black / African American
14%
Hispanic / Latino
9%
Asian
2%
Other / Multi-racial
12%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Roanoke, VA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Picture a typical week at Hollins: mornings riding trails or rehearsing dance pieces, afternoons in writing circles, evenings at Batten House parties with your dorm sisters or hikes to Roanoke's iconic neon-lit Mill Mountain Star. Campus life pulses with traditions like Tinker Day, a beloved fall ritual of picnics, games, and costumes that flips classes for playful bonding, and Hollinsownia homecoming parades that unite alums. Nearly all undergrads live on campus in cozy residence halls fostering lifelong friendships, with 100+ clubs from quidditch to Model UN keeping things lively. The vibe feels nurturing yet fierce—empowering for introverted creatives—but winters bring chilly mountain fog, social scenes stay subdued without frat parties, and the women-only rule means weekend trips to nearby Virginia Tech for co-ed mixers if that's your scene.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Old Dominion Athletic Conf.
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$19,448
$30K – $48K
$19,595
$48K – $75K
$21,611
$75K – $110K
$29,020
$110K+
$25,407
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
74%
4 Years Graduation Rate
66%
6 Years Graduation Rate
67%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$40,075
74% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Hollins University and return in the fall. 66% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 67% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
66%
4-6 years
1%
Non-grad
33%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$40,350
Acceptance
68%
Undergrads
665
4-Year Grad Rate
66%
Endowment
$301M
Roanoke, VA 24020
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