Lees-McRae College campus
Lees-McRae College logo

Lees-McRae College

Type 4 year, Private
Business Model Non Profit
Campus locale Rural: Distant
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Common app member Yes
Dormitory capacity 680
Religious affiliation Presbyterian
Student to faculty ratio 11 to 1
Acceptance rate 59%
Students retention rate 67%
On-time graduation rate 40%

Located in Banner Elk, North Carolina, Lees-McRae College is a private, non profit institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

Lees-McRae College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 11-to-1, Lees-McRae College emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

While the on-time graduation rate at Lees-McRae College is reported to be 40%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, North Carolina state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 61% whereas the national average was 58%.

The retention rate of students at Lees-McRae College is 67% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in North Carolina is 80%, while the national average is 74%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Lees-McRae College do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

59.2%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$28,290

Cost of attendance at Lees-McRae College in 2022 for students from North Carolina.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

North Carolina's average $7,237
National average $30,235

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$28,290

Cost of attendance at Lees-McRae College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

North Carolina's average $20,075
National average $30,238

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 100 of freshman students at Lees-McRae College received on average $18,350 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$18,350
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 72 37% $4,857 $349,729
Other Federal Grant 72 37% $5,184 $373,229
State Grant/Scholarships 73 37% $5,498 $401,353
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 195 100% $14,378 $2,803,649
Total Grant & Scholarships 195 100% $18,350 $3,578,231

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Lees-McRae College students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Lees-McRae College students is 40.4%. Female students graduated at a rate of 49.1%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 30.4%.

40.4%

  • African American 19.2% 5 students
  • white 44.4% 59 students
  • unknown 45.0% 9 students
  • hispanic 33.3% 4 students

Sport Conferences

  • Basketball Conference Carolinas
  • Track and Cross Country Conference Carolinas

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Lees-McRae College provides the following additional services to its students
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Lees-McRae College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)

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