Lees-McRae College vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney

Comparable Facts

Compare Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC with Hampden Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hampden Sydney College is larger than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (946 students vs. 910 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Hampden Sydney College is in Hampden-Sydney, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampden Sydney College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Hampden Sydney College 9:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 Hampden Sydney College than Lees-McRae College ($29,717 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lees McRae College are 9.2% lower than at Hampden Sydney College ($15,200 vs. $16,732).
• Hampden Sydney College is 64.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lees-McRae College (about $21,300 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $33,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 64.1% higher at HSC- Hampden-Sydney than at Lees McRae College (about $21,300 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $33,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampden Sydney College than at Lees McRae College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampden Sydney College students is 105.9% larger than aid received by Lees McRae College students ($40,720 vs. $19,774).

Lees-McRae College vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney and Lees-McRae College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lees McRae College (1140) is the same as at HSC- Hampden-Sydney (1140).
• Incoming HSC- Hampden-Sydney students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Lees-McRae College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 1040/1240; Hampden Sydney College 1030/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26; Hampden Sydney College 23/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; HSC- Hampden-Sydney - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: HSC- Hampden-Sydney Feb 1, 2027.
• Lees-McRae College has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than HSC- Hampden-Sydney (40.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 22.8% at HSC- Hampden-Sydney.

Lees-McRae College vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lees-McRae College and HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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).

• Hampden Sydney College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Hampden Sydney College earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,000 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lees McRae College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates ($20,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates ($206 vs. $279).
• More HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.