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Lee University
Lee University says yes to 70.5% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $43,222 median earnings.
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Lee University sits in Cleveland proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Church of God affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Accounting and Related Services, where graduates median $79,208 four years out. 28.7% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 2,617 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 82.3% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1020 and 1240 — near the TN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Lee University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Lee University received 2,150 applications and admitted 1,552 (72.2%), with 553 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1020–1240 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Lee University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 520 | 580 | 630 |
| SAT Math | 500 | 540 | 610 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 23 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Lee University compares
| Lee University | Tennessee median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 70.5% | 69.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $23,790 | $21,400 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $43,222 | $48,382 | $53,781 |
At $43,222, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($48,382). Look at Lee University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $23,790 regardless of where you're from. At Lee University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 2,617 undergrads, Lee University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
62.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 37% don't — ask a Lee University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Lee University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $79,208 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $70,388 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $59,274 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $54,203 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $48,382 |
| Psychology, General | $46,719 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $46,573 |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | $45,844 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $45,221 |
| Sociology | $44,193 |
| History | $44,096 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $44,095 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $43,241 |
| Education, Other | $42,329 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $41,882 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $41,162 |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $40,791 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $39,988 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $36,999 |
| Music | $35,702 |
Median earnings for these 20 Lee University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $43,222 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 42 additional Lee University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Lee University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1020–1240 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 70.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Lee University's acceptance rate?
72.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,552 admitted from 2,150 applicants.
How much does Lee University cost?
At Lee University, published tuition is $23,790 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Lee University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Lee University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $43,222 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Tennessee
- Lincoln Memorial University — 62.6% admitted
- Maryville College — 60.9% admitted
- Johnson University — 65.1% admitted
- University of Memphis — 72% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.