Lees-McRae College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College

Should I go to Lees McRae College or Gwynedd Mercy College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lees-McRae College or Gwynedd Mercy College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Lees McRae College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College comparison
Lees McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Lees-McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College
Location Banner Elk, NC Gwynedd Valley, PA
Setting Distant Rural Large Suburban
Enrollment 855 2,091
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #315
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lmc.edu gmc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Lees-McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $26,490 $36,052
Tuition (Out of State) $26,490 $36,052
Room & Board $12,200 $13,056
Avg Net Price $24,108 $28,122
Avg Grant Aid $18,205 $24,512
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Lees-McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,733 1,063
Admitted 1,063 621
Acceptance Rate 61.3% 58.4%
Enrolled % 19.9% 24.5%
Avg High School GPA - 3.34
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/26
SAT Range 1040/1240 1015/1235
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 20, 2025

Academics

 Lees-McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (25%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (2%)
  • Psychology (2%)

Outcomes

 Lees-McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College
Graduation Rate 24% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,300 $56,600
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $206 $258

Diversity

 Lees-McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College
% Men 35% 27%
% Women 65% 73%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 57%
% Black 7% 23%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 18% 10%

Students

 Lees-McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College
% In-State 45% 80%
% Out-of-State 50% 20%

Campus

 Lees-McRae College Gwynedd Mercy College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is larger than than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (2,091 students vs. 855 students)

Lees-McRae College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or Gwynedd Mercy College?

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is 36.1% more expensive to attend than Lees-McRae College for in-state tuition ($36,052.00 vs. $26,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.1% higher at Gwynedd Mercy College than Lees McRae College ($36,052.00 vs. $26,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lees McRae College than Gwynedd Mercy College ($24,108 vs. $28,122)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lees McRae College are 7% lower than costs at Gwynedd Mercy College ($12,200 vs. $13,056)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Lees McRae College as Gwynedd Mercy College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gwynedd Mercy College students is 34.6% larger than aid received Lees McRae College ($24,512 vs. $18,205)

Lees-McRae College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or Gwynedd Mercy College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Gwynedd Mercy College or Lees-McRae College .

  • Lees-McRae College has a higher acceptance rate (61.3%) than Gwynedd Mercy College (58.4%)

Lees-McRae College vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lees-McRae College or Gwynedd Mercy College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Gwynedd Mercy College and Lees-McRae College.

  • The graduation rate at Gwynedd Mercy College is higher than Lees McRae College (52% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Gwynedd Mercy College earn on average $22,300 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates after ten years. ($56,600 vs. $34,300)
  • Lees McRae College students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Gwynedd Mercy College graduates. ($20,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Lees-McRae College graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Gwynedd Mercy College graduates. ($206 vs. $258)
  • More Gwynedd Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/