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Lees-McRae College

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC · Rural · 873 students
WebsiteCommon AppScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$28,340
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
43%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
43% typical
$43,415
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$45,606 typical
77%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
75% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

Situated in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains as the highest elevated campus east of the Mississippi River, Lees-McRae College is a small private institution renowned for experiential learning and outdoor adventure. The college is best known for distinctive programs in wildlife biology and wildlife rehabilitation—anchored by the hands-on, on-campus May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center—alongside strong offerings in nursing, pre-veterinary medicine, and musical theatre. Student life is defined by an active, tight-knit mountain culture boasting nationally recognized cycling and ski teams, as well as a uniquely pet-friendly policy that allows students to bring companion animals to residence halls and classrooms.

Wikipedia: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.

Location
Banner Elk, NC, 28604 · Rural campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
RDU · Raleigh-Durham
174 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$33,250
Housing & food (on campus)$15,200
Books & supplies$600
Cost of attendance$59,230
Average net price$28,340
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$33,250
Housing & food (on campus)$15,200
Books & supplies$600
Cost of attendance$59,230
Average net price$28,340
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.lmc.edu
How it’s made up · 2026-27
Lees-McRae College’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$33,000
Housing$7,580
Food$9,000
Books & supplies$570
Personal expenses$2,850
Transportation$1,600
Total published by the school$59,230
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$23,030
$30–48k
$22,733
$48–75k
$25,905
$75–110k
$28,854
$110k+
$33,664
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
43%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
37%
Back for yr 2
69%
Transferred
41%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
43% graduated · 38% transferred · 19% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$41,599
10 yrs after entry$43,415
Debt
Median at graduation$17,375
Monthly payment$184
Middle 50% owe$8.8k–$21k
90th percentile$27,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — diverse fields: 43% graduate within 6 yrs.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
77%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard
ACT midpoint
23

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Essay prompts

If Lees-McRae College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 33%Women 67%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
11 : 1
Pell grant
37%
First-gen
40%
Family income
$42,683
Independent
37%
Age at entry
25.0
Part-time
2%
Race & ethnicity
White
56%
Hispanic
5%
Black
7%
Asian
1%
Two or more
1%
Non-resident
5%
AI/AN
1%
Unknown
23%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division II without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Men's · Women's
  • Other Sports
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Men's · Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$41,599
After 10 yrs
$43,415
Zoology/Animal Biology48
Human Services, General36
Criminal Justice and Corrections25
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods21
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness16
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing14
Business Administration, Management and Operations14
Biology, General12
Psychology, General8
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management4
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs3
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft3
English Language and Literature, General2
Visual and Performing Arts, General2
Communication and Media Studies1
Special Education and Teaching1
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$40M
Full-time faculty
50%
Faculty salary
$6,116/mo
Teaching spend
$7,880
per student
Federal loans
59%
Classification
Carnegie type
Baccalaureate — diverse fields
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

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