Lees-McRae College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Banner Elk, North Carolina. It enrolls 873 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
46/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes18
Value6
Affordability41
Selectivity45
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76.8%, Lees-McRae College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lees-McRae College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
25.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lees-McRae College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,340 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,340
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
59%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$33,250
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,200
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,882
Books & Supplies
$600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,272
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,272
Total Cost of Attendance
$49,498
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$23,030
$30,001 – $48,000
$22,733
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,905
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,854
Over $110,000
$33,664
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$17,375Medianpercentile
$21,00075%percentile
$27,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,000
↓ $5,375
No Pell $12,875
↓ $4,500
Dependent students $13,357
↓ $4,018
Independent students $11,000
↓ $6,375
Female students $12,000
↓ $5,375
Male students $12,125
↓ $5,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,250, less than completers ($17,375), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
54% of full-time students who enrolled at Lees-McRae College graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
54%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lees-McRae College earn a median of $43,415 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,415
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$32,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$27,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$38,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lees-McRae College is home to 873 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
873
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.5%493
Black 6.9%60
International 4.9%43
Hispanic 4.7%41
Other 2.2%19
Asian 1.5%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lees-McRae College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantBanner Elk, North Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential673 beds for 873 students
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Lees-McRae College offers
a varied set of programs:
21 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lees-McRae College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$69M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$50,770
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
62 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
10
16%
$61,274
Associate Professors
10
16%
$57,572
Assistant Professors
25
40%
$47,975
Instructors
17
27%
$44,702
Pros & Cons of Lees-McRae College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lees-McRae College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Lees-McRae College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lees-McRae College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lees-McRae College.
Is Lees-McRae College hard to get into?
Lees-McRae College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Lees-McRae College?
Lees-McRae College has an acceptance rate of 76.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lees-McRae College cost?
The average net price after aid at Lees-McRae College is $28,340 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lees-McRae College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,415 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,340 per year. That's roughly 1.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lees-McRae College known for?
Lees-McRae College is best known for its programs in Zoology, Human, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lees-McRae College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lees-McRae College are $43,415, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lees-McRae College accredited?
Yes. Lees-McRae College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Lees-McRae College?
Lees-McRae College enrolls 873 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lees-McRae College?
Lees-McRae College graduates 54% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lees-McRae College a public or private college?
Lees-McRae College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lees-McRae College located?
Lees-McRae College is located in Banner Elk, North Carolina.
What programs does Lees-McRae College offer?
Lees-McRae College offers 21 distinct programs. The most popular include Zoology, Human, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lees-McRae College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lees-McRae College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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