True College Verdict
D

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC · 873 undergraduates · 46% receive Pell Grants · admits 77%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

Below average. Ask hard questions before enrolling. It ranks 936 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 46.9 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $28,253 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
61% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $16,500 against earnings of $52,058, a ratio of 0.32. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Lees-McRae College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $16,500 in federal loans against earnings of $52,058.

Why it is bad

  • Many students leave early: only 69% of first-year students return for a second year.
  • Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $52,058, lower than 68% of four-year colleges.
  • Expensive: the average student pays about $28,253 a year after grants, more than at 80% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
61%
Better than 55% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
69%
Better than 27% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$52,058
Better than 32% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$16,500
Better than 67% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$28,253
Better than 20% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$34,770
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Lees-McRae College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

Compare with other colleges Estimate your cost

The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.