Private nonprofitFour-year

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC · Highest award: Graduate degree

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Net price (avg)
$28,340
Academic year 2023-24
Tuition & fees
$33,250
Academic year 2024-25
Graduation rate
42.1%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Median earnings (10 yr)
$43,415
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars

Read the years, not just the numbers

Each figure below is labelled with the period it covers, because they are not all from the same year. Tuition is Academic year 2024-25, while the earnings figure describes students who entered Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars. They are historical facts about this institution, not a quote for you.

What it actually costs

Net price is what students paid after grant and scholarship aid — usually far below the sticker price.

Total cost of attendance
$49,498
Academic year 2023-24
Tuition & fees (in state)
$33,250
Academic year 2024-25
Tuition & fees (out of state)
$33,250
Academic year 2024-25
Room & board (on campus)
$15,200
Academic year 2024-25
Room & board (off campus)
$19,882
Academic year 2024-25
Books & supplies
$600
Academic year 2024-25

Average net price by family income

Academic year 2023-24

$0–30,00023,030
$30,001–48,00022,733
$48,001–75,00025,905
$75,001–110,00028,854
$110,001+33,664

Figures are U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard data for Academic year 2023-24, published by the U.S. federal government. They are historical reference values, not a quote, and not an offer. Your actual cost will depend on your own circumstances.

This college’s official net price calculator ↗

Outcomes

Historical results for students who attended. They do not predict your own.

Graduation rate (150% time)
42.1%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Graduation rate (200% time)
46.8%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Retention (full-time)
68.8%
Fall 2023 cohort
Median earnings (6 yr)
$41,599
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars
Median earnings (10 yr)
$43,415
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars
Loan default rate (3 yr)
0.0%
FSA FY2022 cohort
Median debt of completers
$17,375
NSLDS FY2020/21 pooled
Median debt monthly payment
$184.20
NSLDS FY2020/21 pooled
Repayment rate (3 yr)
55.3%
NSLDS FY2013/14 cohort

Compared with a high-school graduate

Students here earned a median of $43,415 ten years after entering, against a national benchmark for high-school graduates of $36,082. That benchmark is 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, 2024 dollars.

Admissions and size

Many institutions do not report these — “Not reported” is not a zero.

Admission rate
76.8%
Fall 2024
Average SAT (equivalent)
Not reported
Fall 2024
ACT 25th–75th percentile
Not reported
Fall 2024
Undergraduate enrollment
873
Fall 2024
Student-faculty ratio
11:1
Fall 2024
First-generation share
40.1%
Fall 2024
Pell grant recipients
37.3%
Academic year 2023-24
Federal loan recipients
59.4%
Academic year 2023-24
Median family income
$42,683
AY2022-23 (median family income)

Student body

Fall 2024

White56%
Hispanic5%
Black7%
Asian1%
Two or more races1%
Nonresident / international5%

Other Four-year institutions in NC

Peer institutions
InstitutionNet priceGrad rateEarnings (10 yr)
Appalachian State University$16,83674.5%$51,836
Barton CollegeNot reported45.9%$47,913
Belmont Abbey CollegeNot reported46.7%$47,937
Bennett CollegeNot reported25.0%$36,654
Brevard CollegeNot reported48.8%$43,545
Cabarrus College of Health SciencesNot reported71.4%$58,708
Campbell UniversityNot reported61.0%$54,886
Carolina Christian CollegeNot reported15.4%$40,672
Carolina College of Biblical StudiesNot reported0.0%$24,581
Carolina UniversityNot reported21.6%$32,864
Carolinas College of Health SciencesNot reported100.0%$64,624
Catawba CollegeNot reported47.3%$48,793

Earnings by field of study

Four years after graduation, by programme. Compare each against the national median for that field.

Earnings by field of study
ProgrammeMedian earnings (4 yr)National medianMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.$87,523$88,910$23,125
Business Administration, Management and Operations.$60,108$68,257$18,500
Criminal Justice and Corrections.$50,085$55,378$15,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.$45,862$47,382$15,000
Psychology, General.$44,161$50,706$27,250
Human Services, General.$43,273$48,597$15,750
Zoology/Animal Biology.$38,699$44,055$24,120
Nutrition Sciences.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness.Not reported$54,562Not reported
Religion/Religious Studies.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Visual and Performing Arts, General.Not reported$41,688Not reported
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.Not reported$39,775Not reported
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.Not reported$70,786Not reported
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
History.Not reported$50,680Not reported
Communication and Media Studies.Not reported$56,359Not reported

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10) — https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/ · Data last updated 2026-06-10