Lees-McRae College

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC, USA

Lees-McRae College is a 4-year institution in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Lees-McRae offers 20 majors and 20 minors on its campus, which sits at an elevation of 4,000 ft., making it the highest elevated campus in the eastern US. Providing 11 different housing types, the university is bicycle-friendly and pet-friendly, offering housing units for furry friends and dog parks near campus. Lees-McRae College is also home to the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, John B. Stephenson Center for Appalachia, and The New Opportunity School for Women, which assists low-income women from 30-55.

Admissions

Key Admissions Stats

Institution Type
Private
  • Not for Profit
  • Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Coed

Need Blind

This school does not consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Suburb or town
0
100
59%
Acceptance Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT
SAT is not checked
No
ACT
ACT is not checked
No
Transcript
Transcript is checked
Yes

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Early Decision Acceptance is binding so student must attend college if accepted.November 1December 15
Early Action Acceptance is not binding, but student will receive admissions decision earlier.December 15January 5
Fall Regular DecisionApril 10May 1

Rolling Admissions

The college has rolling admissions, which means applications are accepted any time throughout the year.

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
50%
Out-Of-State Students
36%
26%
Submitting ACT
17%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 20
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1030
0
1600

Academics

Key Academic Stats

Highest Degree Offered
Master's
Total Number of Students
873
Total Number of Undergrads
872
Academic Calendar

Semester

See your fit
Classroom Sizes

2-19 Students
78%
20-39 Students
21%
0
100
40%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
46%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%
Student:Faculty Ratio
11:1
US National: 21:1

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Key Financial Stats

Average Net Price
$24,390
Calculate your net cost
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$29,440
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$29,440
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$12,200
Books and Supplies
$600

Aid & Grants

0
100
73%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
48%
Average Aid Per Year
$19,087
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
48%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,241
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$15,447

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
68%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$7,170
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$13,100
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$186

Campus Life

Key Campus Stats

Student Gender
Male
Female
35%
65%
Student Organizations
31
Size of Town
Suburb or town
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups is not checked
No
On Campus Women's Center
On Campus Women's Center is not checked
No

Housing

0
100
61%
Undergrads Living on Campus
On-campus living required of freshman
Yes

Athletics

Divisional Sports Nickname
Bobcats
School Colors
green, white, and gold
Varsity Athletics Association
NCAA
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
Not applicable

Campus Safety

24-HR security patrol
24-HR security patrol is checked
Yes
Campus emergency phones
Campus emergency phones is checked
Yes

After Graduation

Post Grad Stats

Top 5 Cities
Hickory
Charlotte
Greensboro
Raleigh
Asheville
Employed
6 mos. after graduation
67%
Average Salary
6 years after graduation
$34,400

What Students Are Saying

i love lees-mcrae. it is a beautiful mountain school that makes you feel like you live in a personal snow globe. this school prides itself on a strong community.
Cassandra from Weldon, NC
Lees-McRae is an amazing place to go to school. Because it is a small school its easy to find people who are into the same things as you, and creating opportunities for yourself and others to try new things is always encouraged. I really enjoy school here.
Brandon from Upper Darby, PA
Lees-McRae offers the most variety that I have seen so far at colleges.

Lees-McRae offers more rigorous courses for students who like to be challenged in class.

Lees-McRae is located on a beautiful campus that will inspire many different types of people.
Nancy from Elizabethton, TN
Welcome to the Bobcat Family here at Lees-McRae College, making the decision to further continue one's education here was the correct choice! This mountainous environment and joyous staff and peers invite everyone to take control of their own education and become a scholar. Here at Lees-McRae College one establishes a foundation of skills required for further development, it'll be the best four years of your life!
Thelma from Charlotte, NC
Lees McRae College is a very diverse campus with any and all type of persons attending. The college is small, yet it's heart is large, and it's students and faculty are very involved in helping the school as well as helping the small community it's in. Lees McRae is always expanding to better fit the needs of its students and listens to what its students have to say.
Morgan from Wendell, NC