Admit rate has ranged 41%–61% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Rollins College is Florida's oldest post-secondary institution, a small liberal arts college with a sun-drenched campus in Winter Park that punches above its weight in faculty engagement and career outcomes. Known for its intimate classes (averaging just 17 students) and strong emphasis on experiential learning, Rollins attracts students who want both rigorous academics and easy access to Orlando's internships—though its social scene leans more toward Greek life than intellectual fervor.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,631
In-state tuition
$60,580
Out-of-state tuition
$60,580
Founded
1885
Location
Winter Park, FL
Avg Class Size
17
Acceptance Rate
48-53%
6-Year Grad Rate
77%
Need-Based Aid Avg
$42,833
Avg Starting Salary
$55,000
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$58,295
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.7×
Median debt at graduation
$25,500
Graduation rate
75%
First-year retention
85%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
56%
Pell (lower-income) share
58%
First-generation share
24%
Endowment / student
$184,233
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
International Business$43,798
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$43,638
Economics$42,044
Business/Commerce, General$41,565
Communication and Media Studies$36,368
International Relations and National Security Studies
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
12
Per 1,000 students
4.56
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
131
Summer high
89°F
Winter low
55°F
Annual rain
70.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
133
Scholarly works
3,819
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.3%
Bottom → top quintile
23%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Rollins College?
Rollins College's acceptance rate is approximately 48% (Winter Park, FL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Rollins College?
Admitted students at Rollins College typically score 1160–1370 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Rollins College cost?
At Rollins College, the average net price (after aid) is about $34,732 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Rollins College?
Rollins College enrolls approximately 2,631 undergraduate students.
Where is Rollins College located?
Rollins College is located in Winter Park, FL.
Admissions
Rollins is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 48-53% in recent years. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1160-1370 on the SAT or 27-31 on the ACT, with an average unweighted GPA of 3.53. Notably, 56% of applicants now apply Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., reflecting a national trend. The college emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., considering factors like extracurricular involvement and personal essays alongside academic metrics. Female applicants face slightly higher selectivity (49% acceptance rate vs. 53% overall).
With 60+ majors spanning STEM, business, and the liberal arts, Rollins combines the breadth of a larger university with the close mentorship of a small college. Business and social sciences dominate as the most popular programs, but the college shines in interdisciplinary offerings like environmental studies and international relations. Students rave about professor accessibility—many host post-class discussions and mentor undergraduate research. The academic culture leans collaborative rather than cutthroat, with a strong emphasis on applied learning through internships (Orlando's corporate hub is 20 minutes away) and study abroad (50% participation rate).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$33,459
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$30,771
Psychology, General$30,228
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life at Rollins orbits around its lush, residential campus—58% of students live in one of 19 housing options, from traditional dorms to Greek houses. The vibe is more socially oriented than academically intense, with Niche reviewers noting a "party school" reputation balanced by outdoor activities (kayaking on Lake Virginia is a rite of passage). About 30% join Greek life, which dominates weekends. The college leans heavily toward Floridians (70% in-state), creating a sun-seeking, outdoorsy culture where flip-flops are acceptable classroom attire. Winter Park's upscale dining and shopping district provides an off-campus escape.
Rollins delivers strong ROI for a liberal arts college, with 77% of students graduating within six years—well above the national average. The Class of 2025 reported an average starting salary of $55,000, with 30% immediately pursuing grad school. Alumni earnings outpace peers at similar institutions, with median 10-year earnings hitting $58,295 (adjusted for major selection). The college's proximity to Orlando corporate hubs like Disney and Lockheed Martin fuels internship-to-job pipelines, particularly in business and communications fields.
With a sticker price nearing $80k including room/board, Rollins appears steep—but 94% of students receive aid, bringing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to $37,134. Need-based grants range from $2,000 to $55,000 annually, with first-years averaging $42,833 in scholarships. The college meets 85% of demonstrated need, though gaps often require loans. Merit awards are substantial for high-achievers (top scholarships cover 50-100% of tuition), making Rollins competitive with Florida's public universities for strong applicants.
Rollins offers a rare hybrid: the intimate, discussion-based classes of a top liberal arts college with the professional opportunities of a metro-adjacent university. Its 10:1 student-faculty ratio means undergrads regularly co-author research with professors, while Orlando's economy provides real-world labs from theme parks to aerospace. The campus aesthetic—Spanish-Mediterranean architecture draped in bougainvillea—rivals elite Northeastern colleges, but with year-round pool weather. It's ideal for students who want rigorous academics without Ivy League stress, plus guaranteed sunshine between study sessions.
Rollins College logo · source19 Reasons Rollins is America's Most Beautiful Campus · source19 Reasons Rollins is America's Most Beautiful Campus · sourceYour 60-Second Guide to Rollins · source
