Lees-McRae College vs. Cedar Crest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC with Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cedar Crest College is larger than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (1,290 students vs. 910 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Cedar Crest College is in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cedar Crest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Cedar Crest College 9:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. Cedar Crest College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or Cedar Crest College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cedar Crest College than Lees-McRae College ($23,691 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 11.8% lower than at Lees McRae College ($13,406 vs. $15,200).
• Cedar Crest College is 39.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lees-McRae College (about $13,064 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $33,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.3% higher at Cedar Crest College than at Lees McRae College (about $13,064 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $33,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cedar Crest College than at Lees McRae College (99% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cedar Crest College students is 68.5% larger than aid received by Lees McRae College students ($33,323 vs. $19,774).

Lees-McRae College vs. Cedar Crest College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or Cedar Crest College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cedar Crest College and Lees-McRae College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lees McRae College (1140) is 20 points higher than at Cedar Crest College (1120).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 1040/1240; Cedar Crest College 1000/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; Cedar Crest College - Test-free.
• Cedar Crest College has a higher acceptance rate (84.1%) than Lees-McRae College (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 13.5% at Cedar Crest College.

Lees-McRae College vs. Cedar Crest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lees-McRae College and Cedar Crest College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Cedar Crest College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Cedar Crest College earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lees McRae College graduates have a $7,750 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($20,000 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($206 vs. $286).
• More Cedar Crest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.