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Economic score
Lees, McRae College is a private regional college located in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Lees-McRae College is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Lees-McRae College is in the bottom 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $39,051 10 years after enrolling, 40th in North Carolina, and in the bottom 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Lees-McRae College bachelor students earn 5% less than the national average. Lees-McRae College is ranked 33rd in North Carolina.
Lees, McRae College’s median net annual cost of $23,347 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Lees-McRae College sorted by number of graduates - Zoology, Registered Nursing, Education, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Health & Fitness - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$23,347
Average years to graduate
4.1
Psychology
Rank: #812
Economic score: 450.87
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 58% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Lees-McRae College is 2% higher than the state average, and 10% above the average for all regional colleges in the country.
At Lees-McRae College, Pell Grant recipients represent 44% of the measured graduating class, 9% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Lees-McRae College graduates within 4.2 years.
Lees-McRae College is in the top 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Lees, McRae College’s economic mobility score of 12.22 is calculated by adjusting the 5.79 economic score of lower-income students by the 44% pell grant recipients within the student body. Lees-McRae College’s EMS of 12.22 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Lees, McRae College pays $23,347 a year, $21,417 less than the $44,764 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $23,347
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Lees-McRae College, 100% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $23,347 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 75% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,651. This is 21% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$6,664
Pell grants
$4,761
State grants
$5,498
Institutional grants
$14,378
Lees, McRae College offers 5 online bachelor programs, 3 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Lees-McRae College offers 3 programs, all of which are hybrid format. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
8
Hybrid programs
5
Percentage of programs online
29%
Lees, McRae College's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 59% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 1,777 applicants, of which 1,052 were admitted and 247 enrolled. Lees-McRae College has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
67%
59%
First time
54%
59%
In-state
58%
68%
1st generation
40%
35%
White
73%
52%
Black
8%
14%
Hispanic
6%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
12%
12%