# Lees-McRae College

Private nonprofit college in Banner Elk, NC. IPEDS ID 198808.
Source page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/lees-mcrae-college · Data: https://educationguide.com/data/colleges/lees-mcrae-college.json · Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score

## Key numbers
- Acceptance rate: 77% (Fall 2024, College Scorecard)
- Average net price after grants: $28,340 per year (AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25)
- Graduation rate (6 years): 42%; beats 25% of NC colleges and 29% nationwide
- Median earnings 10 years after starting: $43,415; beats 28% of NC colleges and 21% nationwide
- Median debt at graduation: $12,000

## Net price by family income (per year, after grants)
| Family income | Net price |
|---|---|
| 0-30k | $23,030 |
| 30-48k | $22,733 |
| 48-75k | $25,905 |
| 75-110k | $28,854 |
| 110k+ | $33,664 |

Average after grants for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid. Negative values mean grants exceed cost.

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
Graduates took 4.1 years on average (40% finished in 4 years; Fall 2017 entrants, IPEDS). Earnings gain = $43,415 (median earnings of former students 10 years after starting college (College Scorecard)) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $23,030 | $94,423 | 9.5 years |
| 30-48k | $22,733 | $93,205 | 9.4 years |
| 48-75k | $25,905 | $106,210 | 10.7 years |
| 75-110k | $28,854 | $118,301 | 12.0 years |
| 110k+ | $33,664 | $138,022 | 13.9 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Sticker price
- Cost of attendance: $49,498
- Tuition and fees: $33,250
- Housing and meals: $13,730; books: $600

## Admissions
- SAT reading & writing: not reported; SAT math: not reported; ACT: not reported (25th–75th percentile, Fall 2024)
- Fall 2023: 1,787 applicants, 1,443 admitted, 199 enrolled; test scores considered but not required
- Fall 2024: acceptance 77%, ACT not reported (College Scorecard)
- Fall 2023: acceptance 81%, ACT not reported (IPEDS Admissions)

## Majors (24 bachelor's majors)
| Major | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $69,776 | $87,523 | $23,125 |
| Business Administration | $33,292 | $60,108 | $18,500 |
| Criminal Justice | $39,811 | $50,085 | $15,000 |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $38,996 | $45,862 | $15,000 |
| Psychology | not reported | $44,161 | $27,250 |
| Human Services | $34,811 | $43,273 | $15,750 |
| Zoology / Animal Biology | $24,921 | $38,699 | $24,120 |
| Agriculture / Veterinary Preparatory Programs | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Communications | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Special Education | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Education (Subject Teaching) | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| English | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Biology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Nutrition Science | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Religious Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Visual and Performing Arts | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Theatre | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Arts and Entertainment Management | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health Sciences | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech) | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Pre-Med / Pre-Health | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| History | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Major to career
- Nursing → Registered nurse: median wage not reported (metro), $84,350 (NC), $97,550 (U.S.)
- Criminal Justice → Police officer: median wage not reported (metro), $59,300 (NC), $76,210 (U.S.)

## Sources and years
- Net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; cost of attendance: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; tuition: AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; earnings: Treasury AY2009-10, AY2010-11 pooled cohort measured in CY2020, CY2021, inflation adjusted to 2022 dollars; debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
- Major earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).