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Banner Elk , NC
Lees-McRae College is a small, private, liberal arts college located in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Established in 1900, the college has a long-standing reputation for providing a high-quality education in a personalized and supportive environment. With a strong emphasis on experiential learning, Lees-McRae offers students numerous opportunities to engage in hands-on experiences, internships, and research projects.
The college offers a wide range of undergraduate programs, including majors in business administration, education, nursing, outdoor recreation management, and wildlife biology, among others. Lees-McRae College prides itself on its small class sizes, ensuring that students receive individual attention from faculty members who are dedicated to their success. The college also offers various athletic programs, allowing students to engage in competitive sports in both NCAA Division II and the National Cycling Center.
Located in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, Lees-McRae College offers a beautiful and serene campus surrounded by nature. With state-of-the-art facilities, including modern science labs, a library, an art gallery, and a performing arts center, students have access to resources that enhance their learning experience. The college also boasts a strong sense of community, with numerous clubs, organizations, and cultural events that encourage students to engage in extracurricular activities and develop leadership skills.
Overall, Lees-McRae College provides a nurturing and well-rounded educational experience for students. Its commitment to small class sizes, experiential learning, and a supportive community creates an environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and personally. With its beautiful location and variety of programs, Lees-McRae College offers a unique opportunity for students seeking a personalized and holistic college experience.
Lees-McRae College is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Banner Elk, NC and set in a rural environment. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 76%. The freshman retention rate at Lees-McRae College is 69% and the six-year graduation rate is 42%.
To find out more about what Lees-McRae College has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
873
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$31,880
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
42%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most vital information you need to know about admission at Lees-McRae College.
In 2025, the school accepted 1,600 new students.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.58. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Lees-McRae College was 69%.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 42%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect place for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 910 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 39% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 873, 43 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 107.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 294 male and 596 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 13 Asian students and 60 Afro-American students in 2025. 41 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 10 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 204 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Lees-McRae College? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $31,880 for all full-time domestic students. Lees-McRae College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $3,510.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $620.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, room and board cost at Lees-McRae College amounted to $16,030 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 totaled $7,330 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $12,213.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 31,880 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,030 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 620 |
| Total Expense | $ 48,530 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial support available to students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Lees-McRae College.
The most recent records show that 146 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $23,659.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 585 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Lees-McRae College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 585. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $1,849,561, and state $1,478,790. The students of Lees-McRae College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $8,616,894, and external in the amount of $203,048.
$9,494
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
543 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 137 full-time freshmen.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at Lees-McRae College was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 122 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 53 male and 69 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Lees-McRae College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Lees-McRae College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some information about campus life at Lees-McRae College.
Its campus spans 935 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to the most recent information, there are 31 open-membership organizations at Lees-McRae College. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is North Campus RA's, followed by Fellowship of Christian Students and South Campus RA's. Other popular student organizations at this school are SGA Starry Night Formal and CAB Welcome Bash.
For those drawn to acting, there is a drama club where you can participate.
Student Services
At Lees-McRae College, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Lees-McRae College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Lees-McRae College.
Career Counselling
At Lees-McRae College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Lees-McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC.
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Lees-McRae College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Lees-McRae College is 31,880 USD, based on the most recent data.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Lees-McRae College is 76%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Lees-McRae College is 69%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
