Lees-McRae College
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 873 students.
About This School
Lees-McRae College is a private nonprofit institution located in Banner Elk, North Carolina with approximately 873 undergraduate students enrolled. Lees-McRae College has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 77%. The average net price after financial aid is $28,340 per year. The graduation rate is 42%, and the typical graduate earns $34,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
Lees–McRae College is a private college in Banner Elk, North Carolina, United States, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Lees–McRae College sits in the Appalachian Mountains at 3,720 feet (1,130 m) above sea level, the highest elevation of any American college or university east of the Mississippi River. It is one of the few colleges to be named after two women, Suzanna Lees and Elizabeth McRae.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 44% graduation rate and 62% freshman retention rate suggest that a significant portion of students don't finish, which is worth taking seriously before enrolling. On the positive side, median debt at graduation is a relatively low $12,000, and the stunning Appalachian Mountain campus at the highest elevation of any college east of the Mississippi offers a genuinely unique setting for outdoor-focused students. Worth considering if you're drawn to small-college life in the mountains and have a clear plan for staying on track — but ask hard questions about academic and financial support before committing.
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: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
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 (873 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in North Carolina
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC · Public
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public
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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