,·Private, Women's (undergraduate); Coeducational graduate·Est. 1842
“Virginia's historic women's university where creative writing, the arts, and a spirit of tradition shape bold women leaders.”
Founded in 1842, Hollins University is one of the oldest chartered women's colleges in the United States and a cornerstone of liberal arts education in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. Originally established as Valley Union Seminary and later renamed for benefactors John and Ann Halsey Hollins, the institution maintains a single-sex undergraduate program for women while welcoming students of all genders into its renowned graduate programs. Its 475-acre campus in Roanoke blends historic Front Quad architecture with modern academic facilities, set against a backdrop of Tinker Mountain that gives rise to Hollins' most beloved traditions. Hollins is best known nationally for its creative writing program, launched in 1959 by scholar Louis D. Rubin Jr. as one of the first writer-in-residence initiatives in America. Alumnae include Pulitzer Prize winners Annie Dillard, Henry Taylor, and Natasha Trethewey, along with acclaimed novelists Kiran Desai, Jill McCorkle, and Madison Smartt Bell. Beyond writing, Hollins offers distinctive graduate programs in dance, screenwriting and film studies, and children's literature, and its Jackson Center for Creative Writing remains a hub for literary life on campus. Academic life at Hollins is intimate and mentorship-driven, with small classes, one-on-one faculty relationships, and strong traditions of undergraduate research. Students describe a culture that is simultaneously rigorous and deeply communal: Tinker Day, the surprise October holiday when classes are cancelled and the entire community hikes Tinker Mountain in costume, captures the character of the place. With an emphasis on leadership, internships, international study, and the arts, Hollins equips graduates for careers and graduate study while cultivating lasting bonds among its tightly-knit alumnae network.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision
Binding
Early Action
Non-binding
Regular Decision
Priority deadline; rolling consideration for space-available afterwards
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$43,650
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
The flagship department of Hollins, home to the Jackson Center for Creative Writing. Offers undergraduate majors in English and creative writing and graduate programs in creative writing (MFA) and children's literature. Known for a distinguished writer-in-residence program and Pulitzer-winning alumnae.
Includes programs in dance, theatre, studio art, art history, film studies, music, philosophy, religious studies, and world languages. The dance MFA and screenwriting MFA are among the most distinctive graduate options in the region.
Offers strong pre-health and research-oriented programs with small class sizes and significant undergraduate research opportunities. Includes biology, chemistry, environmental studies, mathematics, physics, and data science.
Houses programs in economics, political science, international studies, sociology, gender and women's studies, and history, with strong connections to internship and study-abroad opportunities.
Offers majors in business, communication studies, and education, along with the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. Emphasizes leadership development and experiential learning through internships.
4 years
Hollins' signature undergraduate program, built around workshops, one-on-one faculty mentorship, and visiting writers. Students publish in student-edited journals Cargoes and the Hollins Critic, and routinely progress to top graduate programs and literary careers.
2 years
A well-funded, residential two-year MFA with genre concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Features a distinguished visiting writer each spring and an intimate cohort structure.
2 years
A low-residency, summer-focused MFA co-sponsored with the American Dance Festival and partners in Europe, giving choreographers international study experiences and intensive mentorship.
2 years
A low-residency summer program for writers and filmmakers that combines screenwriting workshops with film history and criticism, with faculty drawn from the industry.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $43,560
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
