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Lees-McRae College
Most applicants get into Lees-McRae College — 76.8% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Lees-McRae College anchors the college town of Banner Elk, NC, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its Presbyterian Church (USA) affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $87,523 four years out. Faculty pay averages $73,392 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 873 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 68.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
What that means for you depends on the numbers — which is what the rest of this page is for.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Lees-McRae College received 1,787 applications and admitted 1,443 (80.7%), with 199 enrolling.
How Lees-McRae College compares
| Lees-McRae College | North Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 76.8% | 75.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $33,250 | $19,500 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $43,415 | $45,873 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Lees-McRae College's median earnings are $43,415 — below the North Carolina benchmark of $45,873. Weigh that against the $33,250 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
Lees-McRae College lists tuition at $33,250 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Lees-McRae College's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $33,250 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 873 undergraduates, Lees-McRae College is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
42.1% graduate within six years. Roughly 58% don't — ask a Lees-McRae College tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Lees-McRae College
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $87,523 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,108 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,085 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,862 |
| Psychology, General | $44,161 |
| Human Services, General | $43,273 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $38,699 |
Median earnings for these 7 Lees-McRae College programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $43,415 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 17 additional Lees-McRae College programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is Lees-McRae College's acceptance rate?
80.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,443 admitted from 1,787 applicants.
How much does Lees-McRae College cost?
At Lees-McRae College, published tuition is $33,250 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Lees-McRae College's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Lees-McRae College graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $43,415 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in North Carolina
- Lenoir-Rhyne University — 84.6% admitted
- Mars Hill University — 67.9% admitted
- High Point University — 75.3% admitted
- Meredith College — 74.2% 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.