Lees-McRae College
#6 Best Biology Colleges in North Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,415 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $28,340 F
- 65% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A D+ overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 8.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $8.0 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Biology Colleges in North Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $8.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $795,354.
What The Data Says
-
A D+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 43% — 25% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $8.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Lees-McRae College Matters
Lees-McRae College is a private college in Banner Elk, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 873
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- 66
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Lees-McRae College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $28,340 a year after grants and scholarships — 65% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,415 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $17,375 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 99% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.30 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC, is best suited for students who thrive in a close-knit community and want to pursue hands-on learning in fields like Biology, Education, Business, Criminal Justice, or Psychology. With an acceptance rate of 77%, it's accessible for a broad range of applicants, particularly those looking for a supportive environment where they can engage deeply with their studies. The college's relatively small enrollment of 873 allows for strong connections between students and faculty, which can be a big plus for personal growth and academic success.
Looking at the outcomes, graduates from Lees-McRae earn around $43,415 ten years after finishing their degree. While the graduation rate stands at 43%, many students find their footing in the workforce, reflecting the school's emphasis on practical skills and real-world applications. For those who qualify, the Pell Grant rate of 37% suggests that financial aid is available to help alleviate costs, making the college a viable option for students from diverse economic backgrounds.
When it comes down to the numbers, the net price for students after financial aid comes to about $28,340, which is a significant investment but not uncommon for private colleges. The median debt load of $17,375 indicates that while borrowing is necessary for many, it remains manageable for graduates. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a collaborative atmosphere and are ready to engage in their educational journey, setting themselves up for future success.
Rankings
- #6 Best Biology Colleges in North Carolina
- #13 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina
- #14 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina
- #27 Best Colleges for Cross-Class Networks
- #39 Best Bachelor's Programs in North Carolina
- #39 Best Master's Programs in North Carolina
- #39 Best Psychology Colleges in North Carolina
- #41 Best Business Colleges in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Lees-McRae College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lees-McRae College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Lees-McRae College, located in Banner Elk, North Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,116
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.67
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
- Applicants
- 1,733
- Admitted
- 1,063
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lees-McRae College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lees-McRae College is $33,250, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $28,340. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,030 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,375 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $33,250
- Out-of-State
- $33,250
- Avg Net Price
- $28,340
- Median Debt
- $17,375
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 59%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $23,030
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $22,733
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,905
- Family Income $110K+
- $33,664
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Lees-McRae College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lees-McRae College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lees-McRae College report median earnings of $43,415, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,599
- 8 Years
- $44,802
- 10 Years
- $43,415
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (81)
- 38%
- 100% (81)
- 38%
- 100% (81)
- 38%
- 100% (81)
- 38%
How Lees-McRae Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Lees-McRae College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lees-McRae College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $28,340/year ($113,360 total). Graduates earn $43,415 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $908,714 in total earnings — a net gain of $795,354 (8.0× your investment). The median debt is $17,375, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $113,360
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $908,714
- Net Return
- $795,354
- ROI Multiple
- 8.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $28,340
- Median Debt
- $17,375
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Lees-McRae College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lees-McRae College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.31%, a more modest figure. About 8.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 3.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $83,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.31%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 3.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $113,040
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,939,912
- Investment Income
- $973,939
Top Programs
The fields Lees-McRae College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Biology & Biomedical 27% $24,472 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13% $53,052 early-career
- Education 13% $40,865 early-career
- Criminal Justice 10% $34,239 early-career
- Psychology 4% $27,870 early-career
- Health Professions 1% $75,967 early-career
- English & Literature 1%
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lees-McRae College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lees-McRae College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Lees-McRae College, located in Banner Elk, North Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lees-McRae College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lees-McRae College is $33,250, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $28,340. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,030 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,375 in federal student loans.
Is Lees-McRae College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lees-McRae College report median earnings of $43,415, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Lees-McRae College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lees-McRae College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.31%, a more modest figure. About 8.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 3.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $83,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lees-McRae College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Lees-McRae College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.30, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lees-McRae College.
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeSaint Mary of the Woods, IN · Close peer49% grad $43,845 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Montreat CollegeMontreat, NC · Close peer45% grad $45,151 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Close peer51% grad $43,418 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wilson CollegeChambersburg, PA · Close peer50% grad $43,326 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Graceland University-LamoniLamoni, IA · Close peer40% grad $47,361 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Emmanuel UniversityFranklin Springs, GA · Close peer38% grad $38,208 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lees-McRae College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Lees-McRae College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.30, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note