RMC’s Four-Year Degree Guarantee
RMC’s academic program and personalized student advising are exceptional.
As a result, the college guarantees in writing that freshmen who meet the Four-Year Degree Guarantee requirements will graduate within four calendar years. If not, Randolph-Macon will waive tuition costs for courses needed to complete the degree. This is Randolph-Macon’s promise to students and represents what the college has been doing well for nearly two centuries.
Currently, 95 percent of Randolph-Macon graduates complete their degree in four years or fewer. This percentage is much higher than the four-year completion rate for all graduates at private colleges (almost 80 percent), and for public institutions (below 50 percent). Source: National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
“Our students receive hands-on academic advising from dedicated, experienced faculty who monitor students’ progress closely and help them make appropriate choices,” says RMC President Robert R. Lindgren. “The Four-Year Degree Guarantee underscores the value and benefits of the liberal arts education we provide.”
RMC’s Four-Year Degree Guarantee made national headlines in September 2011 in The New York Times. Alan Schwartz, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated reporter, visited the campus during freshmen move-in day and interviewed President Lindgren about the program. Schwartz watched as Chris Kruchten ’15 and Annabelle O’Neil ’15 signed the pledge and he interviewed Kruchten’s mother for the article. Click on New York Times to read the article.
The Four-Year Degree Guarantee
Full-time students who satisfy the policies stated in the RMC College Catalog in effect at the time of their enrollment will enter into this partnership with the college and be able to graduate successfully within four years, or Randolph-Macon will provide the required course(s) on campus free of tuition charges.
These policies include:
- Complying with the academic requirements related to course load, number of courses, satisfactory progress, GPA, and timely declaration of major
- Meeting regularly (the college recommends twice per semester) with the academic advisor and following the advice provided by this advisor
- Registering and selecting courses in a timely fashion
- Submitting an application for degree in the academic year in which graduation is anticipated
- Satisfying all financial obligations to the college
- Avoiding any academic or judicial suspension or action that delays graduation
The college reserves the right to withhold its free tuition guarantee if the student does not comply with one or more of the above policies. In addition, The Four-Year Degree Guarantee may not be applicable if the student elects certain second or third majors requiring coursework beyond what can be reasonably accommodated within a four-year period, or elects to defer graduation to allow athletic participation in a fifth academic year.
The Four-Year Degree Guarantee will be reviewed with each student individually during Summer Freshmen Orientation sessions, and a partnership agreement will be signed by the President or Provost, the student, and his/her parents at that time.
For additional details about the Four-Year Degree Guarantee, contact an admissions counselor in the Office of Admissions at 804.752.7305.
