How do I schedule a campus tour at Lees-McRae College?

Lees-McRae College has 10 upcoming campus tour dates; registration links for each are listed on this page.

What types of campus tours does Lees-McRae College offer?

Lees-McRae College currently offers Campus Visit. 10 upcoming dates are listed on this page.

What is the nearest airport to Lees-McRae College?

The nearest major airport is Charlotte (CLT), about 84 miles away.

Where can I stay when visiting Lees-McRae College?

Hotels near campus include Check nearby accommodations. See the visit-planning section on this page for details.

Lees-McRae College Campus Tours & Visits — Banner Elk, NC

Known for biology — close-knit campus

Lees-McRae College is a private rural institution in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 817 undergraduates with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. The rural location provides a peaceful, focused academic environment.

44% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $43,415 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $25,765.

Established

1900

Motto

In Montibus, Ex Montibus, Pro Montibus

Mascot

Wily the Bobcat

Type

Private college

Division

Division II

81%

Acceptance

—

SAT Avg

817

Undergrads

10:1

Student : Faculty

44%

Grad Rate (4yr)

$43,415

Earnings 10yr

$25,765

Avg Net Price

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

•History Lees–McRae College was founded in Banner Elk as an all-female high school in 1899 by the Reverend Edgar Tufts, a Presbyterian minister.
•He named the school "The Elizabeth McRae Institute" after a well-respected educator in 1900.
•The name of school benefactor Suzanna Lees was added in 1903, and the school became "The Lees–McRae Institute" when it was chartered by the state in 1907.
•An all-male branch was founded in 1907 in nearby Plumtree, North Carolina.
•The Plumtree facility was destroyed in a 1927 fire, leading the two campuses to merge at the Banner Elk site.

Source: Wikipedia

Schools Like This

Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine

Sugar Grove, NC · Rural · Private

Mars Hill University

Mars Hill, NC · Rural · Private

78% accept$20,313 net

Guilford College

Greensboro, NC · Urban · Private

84% accept1120 SAT$21,200 net

Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa, NC · Rural · Private

78% accept1290 SAT$23,719 net

Admissions

Acceptance Rate80.8%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Typical Application Requirements

0/9 items complete

Common Application or Coalition Application

Verify at source →

Official High School Transcript

Verify at source →

School Report + Counselor Recommendation

Verify at source →

Two Teacher Recommendations

Verify at source →

SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

Verify at source →

Lees-McRae College Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

Verify at source →

CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

Verify at source →

Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

Verify at source →

Interview (recommended)Optional

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Get access to view details →

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$31,140

Room & Board$13,730

Books & Supplies$600

Total Cost of Attendance$45,886

Average Net Price$25,765

Median Debt at Graduation$17,375

Monthly Payment (10yr)$184

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$18,829

$30–48K$21,139

$48–75K$20,899

$75–110K$26,761

$110K+$29,115

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

13.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.4%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

Programs (25)

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate44.2%

Freshman Retention62.3%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$41,599

10 Years$43,415

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

62%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads

817

Gender Split

67% / 33%

Women / Men

First Generation

40%

Pell Grant Recipients

37%

Race & Ethnicity

White 74%

Black 8%

Hispanic 5%

Asian 2%

Two+ 1%

Int'l 4%

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

5

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

92Average

Estimated from NC state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Charlottepop. 880K

87 mi(151 min)

Raleighpop. 470K

183 mi(317 min)

Atlantapop. 500K

219 mi(380 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CLTCharlotte84 mi

RDURaleigh-Durham174 mi

ATLAtlanta226 mi

Distance to Cities

Charlotte, NC87 mi

~2h 31m drive

Raleigh, NC183 mi

~5h 17m drive

Atlanta, GA219 mi

~6h 20m drive

Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Nearby Hotels

Mid-Range

Check nearby accommodations

$80-150/night

< 10 mi

Lees-McRae College

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

Schools Like This

Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine

Mars Hill University

Guilford College

Warren Wilson College

Admissions

Typical Application Requirements

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Net Price by Family Income

Debt & Aid Detail

Programs (25)

Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Student Body

Race & Ethnicity

Campus Safety

Incident Breakdown (2024)

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

Climate (School Year)

Nearest Cities

Getting There

Nearest Airports

Distance to Cities

Visit Planning

Nearby Hotels

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