Lees-McRae College
Banner Elk, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 76.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Poor Value
Lees-McRae College earns a CampusROI score of 28 (Poor Value tier), reflecting weak completion and earnings outcomes despite a relatively modest debt load. The full sticker price is $33,250 a year, with a net price of $28,340 -- meaning average aid only knocks about $5,000 off the published rate, an unusually thin discount for a private nonprofit. Median earnings six years after entry are $32,500, climbing to $43,415 at year ten. Median debt is $17,375 -- low for a private college -- producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.535 and a 30.1-year payback period. The two biggest drags on the score are completion rate (42.1%, subscore 25) and earnings premium (subscore 14). Lees-McRae's small mountain-campus model in Banner Elk, NC, with 873 students and a 37.3% Pell rate, draws a student base that includes equestrian, wildlife biology, and outdoor programs. The combination of high net price, low completion, and modest earnings makes the four-year math hard to defend for most majors outside nursing.
The data raises concerns about Lees-McRae College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score28/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period30.1 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Lees-McRae College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $33,250/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $33,250/yr |
| Average net price | $28,340/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $113,360 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,415 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,375 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $184 |
| Estimated payback period | 30.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 873 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Lees-McRae College is $33,250/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $28,340/year, or roughly $113,360 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,030/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,664/year.
The median graduate leaves with $17,375 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $184 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $43,415 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.54 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,030 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,733 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,905 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,854 |
| $110,001+ | $33,664 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 face a $23,030 annual net price -- about $92,000 over four years. With ten-year median earnings of $43,415, low-income students leveraging full Pell support still face a significant gap between sticker discount and lifetime returns. The math works only for graduates in the nursing track ($69K year-one earnings); for everyone else, the four-year debt accumulation outpaces realistic wage growth.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-75,000) pay $25,905 per year, totaling about $104,000 over four years. The aid discount narrows as income rises -- middle earners get less help than the 0-48K brackets. With $43,415 in ten-year earnings, the payback math is poor unless the student majors in nursing or a similarly high-earning field.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $33,664 per year -- effectively full sticker -- totaling $134,656 over four years. For families who can write that check without borrowing, the cultural and lifestyle fit may justify the cost. As a pure ROI calculation against $43,415 in median ten-year earnings, this price point is hard to defend versus regional public alternatives in North Carolina.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Lees-McRae College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Genetics | $38,699 | D |
| Human Services, General | $43,273 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,085 | B |
| Teacher Education | $45,862 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $87,523 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,108 | C |
| Psychology | $44,161 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Lees-McRae's standout ROI program with year-one earnings of $69,776 and a four-year figure of $87,523. Median debt sits at $23,125, producing a healthy debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.331 and a B+ ROI grade. With 14 graduates per year, the program is small but consistently delivers strong placement into regional healthcare networks across western North Carolina. For prospective students targeting nursing, Lees-McRae's net price math finally works.
Human Services, General
Human Services is the largest program by graduate count (36 per year), producing year-one earnings of $34,811 and a C+ ROI grade. Median debt of $15,750 keeps debt-to-earnings at 0.452 -- not great, but manageable. Career paths feed into community-services agencies and case management roles; the field is mission-driven rather than wage-driven, and students should plan accordingly.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice produces year-one earnings of $39,811 climbing to $50,085 at four years out, with median debt of only $15,000 and a 0.377 debt-to-earnings ratio. That earns a B ROI grade -- one of the program's strongest outcomes. With 25 graduates per year, the major routes students to local/state law enforcement and corrections roles where the modest debt load gets paid off quickly.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education delivers year-one earnings of $38,996 and four-year earnings of $45,862, with median debt of $15,000 producing a B ROI grade. Twenty-one graduates per year typically place into North Carolina public-school districts. Teaching wages keep ROI manageable here precisely because debt is low; if Lees-McRae required typical private-college debt loads, this program's math would collapse.
Genetics
Genetics is the largest program by graduate count (48) but carries a D ROI grade. Year-one earnings of $24,921 and four-year earnings of $38,699 against $24,120 in median debt produce a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.968. Most genetics bachelor's holders need graduate school to reach lab/biotech wages; the four-year-only outcome data here understates lifetime returns but accurately reflects the early-career picture.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 76.8% |
| Enrollment | 873 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,116 |
Lees-McRae admits 76.8% of applicants, signaling a non-selective profile that takes most students who apply with adequate credentials. SAT and ACT mid-range data are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with the school's test-optional posture. A 42.1% completion rate combined with this admit rate means prepared students who finish do better than the averages suggest -- but the school is enrolling a meaningful share of students who don't graduate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Lees-McRae's peer cohort includes Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Hampshire College, Chestnut Hill College, and Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary -- a wide spread of small private nonprofits. Among the regional peers, Belmont Abbey and Barton tend to produce stronger completion rates and modestly better earnings, while Hampshire (since its 2019 financial crisis) sits in similarly challenging territory. Lees-McRae's ROI of 28 is on the low end of this peer set; institutions with stronger nursing or pre-professional pipelines typically score 10-20 points higher.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lees-McRae College (this school) | 28 | $28,340 | $43,415 |
| Chestnut Hill College | 28 | $27,970 | $52,015 |
| Hampshire College | 27 | $24,034 | $46,938 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
Who Thrives Here
Lees-McRae fits students drawn to its Appalachian mountain setting and specialty programs (equestrian, wildlife biology, outdoor leadership) at a small-college scale of 873 students. The 37.3% Pell rate reflects a moderately mixed-income population. Students aiming at nursing land the strongest outcomes: $69,776 in year-one earnings and a B+ ROI grade. But the broader liberal-arts and humanities tracks at Lees-McRae produce $40K-range earnings with a 42% completion rate, meaning prospective students should know exactly which program they're targeting before committing to the $28,340 net price.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Lees-McRae College. With a net cost of $28,340 per year and median graduate earnings of only $43,415 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 30.1 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 42.1% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $17,375 against $43,415 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.