Lees-McRae College

Lees-McRae College is a small private non-profit baccalaureate institution located in Banner Elk, North Carolina, with an undergraduate enrollment of 873. As a baccalaureate-level institution, it concentrates its academic programs at the undergraduate level, offering focused four-year degrees with direct pathways to employment or graduate study. As an independently governed, non-profit institution relying on tuition, endowment returns, and philanthropic support, it operates within the broader North Carolina postsecondary education landscape and is regionally accredited, making its credits and degrees eligible for federal financial aid. With a 77% acceptance rate, admission is open to most applicants. The 77% acceptance rate reflects a broadly open admissions approach serving a wide range of students. Net price for families earning \$48,001–$75,000 averages $25,905 per year. The 4-year graduation rate is 43%, near the national average. Among students who received federal financial aid, 10-year median earnings are $43,415. Median debt at graduation for federal aid recipients is $17,375. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1.