Lees-McRae College vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 910 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or Coastal 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 Coastal Carolina University than Lees-McRae College ($14,379 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 20.1% lower than at Lees McRae College ($12,146 vs. $15,200).
• Lees McRae College is 185.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $21,610 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Lees-McRae College than at Coastal Carolina University (about $3,622 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $29,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lees McRae College than at Coastal Carolina University (97% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lees McRae College students is 96% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($19,774 vs. $10,087).

Lees-McRae College vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or Coastal 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 Coastal Carolina and Lees-McRae College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lees McRae College (1140) is the same as at Coastal Carolina (1140).
• Incoming Lees-McRae College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 23) as students at Coastal Carolina (23).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 1040/1240; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Lees-McRae College has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

Lees-McRae College vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lees-McRae College and Coastal 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).

• Coastal Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lees McRae College graduates have a $4,930 lower median loan debt than Coastal Carolina graduates ($20,000 vs. $24,930).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Coastal Carolina graduates ($206 vs. $257).
• More Lees-McRae College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 54%)

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.