Lee University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. a private nonprofit school with 2,617 students.
About This School
Lee University is a private nonprofit institution located in Cleveland, Tennessee with approximately 2,617 undergraduate students enrolled. Lee University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 71%. The average net price after financial aid is $18,878 per year. The graduation rate is 63%, and the typical graduate earns $37,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Lee University is a private Christian university in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1918 as the Church of God Bible Training School with twelve students and one teacher, Nora I. Chambers. The school grew to become Lee College, with a Bible college and junior college on its current site, in 1948. Twenty years later, Lee received accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a four-year liberal arts college. In 1997, Lee became a university; it now offers master's degrees as well as undergraduate degrees.
Worth considering if you're looking for a faith-centered liberal arts experience with a relatively affordable net price of around $20,400/year and manageable debt at graduation. The 61% graduation rate is a real concern — nearly 4 in 10 students don't finish — and median earnings of $37,800 a decade out suggest limited financial upside for many graduates. This fits best for students who prioritize the Christian community and mission over career-driven outcomes, and who have a clear plan to stay enrolled and finish.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 14% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Lee University graduates earn most above the national rate in Accounting and Related Services ($79,208 vs $76,194 nationally), and most below it in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($41,882 vs $63,560).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 74 | $46,719 | $50,706 | −$3,987 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 67 | $70,388 | $88,910 | −$18,522 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 63 | $59,274 | $68,257 | −$8,983 |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | 60 | $45,844 | $42,915 | +$2,929 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 53 | $54,203 | $53,072 | +$1,131 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 31 | $48,382 | $47,382 | +$1,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 25 | $46,573 | $51,389 | −$4,816 |
| Music | 24 | $35,702 | $42,892 | −$7,190 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 23 | $79,208 | $76,194 | +$3,014 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 20 | $44,095 | $56,359 | −$12,264 |
| Education, Other | 20 | $42,329 | $49,113 | −$6,784 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 18 | $41,882 | $63,560 | −$21,678 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,617 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Lee University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Lee University?
Lee University has an acceptance rate of 71%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Lee University hard to get into?
Not especially. Lee University has an acceptance rate of 71%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Lee University cost?
The average net price at Lee University is about $18,878 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Lee University?
Lee University has a graduation rate of 63%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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