Lees-McRae College vs. Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC with Citadel Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Citadel Military College of South Carolina is larger than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (3,793 students vs. 910 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Citadel Military College of South Carolina is in Charleston, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Citadel Military College of South Carolina 11:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. Citadel Military College of South Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or Citadel Military College of South Carolina? 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 Citadel Military College of South Carolina than Lees-McRae College ($22,124 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Citadel Military College of South Carolina are 36.2% lower than at Lees McRae College ($9,705 vs. $15,200).
• Lees McRae College is 164.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Citadel Military College of South Carolina (about $20,680 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $12,570.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.8% higher at Citadel Military College of South Carolina than at Lees McRae College (about $5,258 more per year; $38,508.00 vs. $33,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lees McRae College than at Citadel Military College of South Carolina (97% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lees McRae College students is 20% larger than aid received by Citadel Military College of South Carolina students ($19,774 vs. $16,473).

Lees-McRae College vs. Citadel Military College of South Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or Citadel Military College of South Carolina? 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 Citadel Military College of South Carolina and Lees-McRae College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Citadel Military College of South Carolina (1190) is 50 points higher than at Lees-McRae College (1140).
• Incoming Citadel Military College of South Carolina students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at Lees-McRae College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 1040/1240; Citadel Military College of South Carolina 1085/1285.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26; Citadel Military College of South Carolina 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; Citadel Military College of South Carolina - Test optional.
• Lees-McRae College has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than Citadel Military College of South Carolina (22.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 90.9% at Citadel Military College of South Carolina.

Lees-McRae College vs. Citadel Military College of South Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lees-McRae College and Citadel Military College of South Carolina? 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).

• Citadel Military College of South Carolina's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Citadel Military College of South Carolina earn a median of about $23,900 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lees McRae College graduates have a $3,812 lower median loan debt than Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates ($20,000 vs. $23,812).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates ($206 vs. $246).
• More Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.