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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland Washington State| Lees McRae College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Lees-McRae College | PLU | ||
| Location | Banner Elk, NC | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Distant Rural | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 839 | 2,737 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #429 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lmc.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lees-McRae College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $28,790 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,790 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,730 | $12,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,009 | $23,841 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,843 | $39,464 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Lees-McRae College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,787 | 4,139 | ||
| Admitted | 1,443 | 3,333 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.7% | 80.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.8% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1240 | 988/1258 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Lees-McRae College | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lees-McRae College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 24% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $34,300 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 55% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $206 | $266 |
Diversity |
Lees-McRae College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 18% | 1% |
Students |
Lees-McRae College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Lees-McRae College | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (2,737 students vs. 839 students)
Lees-McRae College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 71.8% more expensive to attend than Lees-McRae College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $28,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 71.8% higher at PLU than Lees McRae College ($49,472.00 vs. $28,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Lees-McRae College ($23,841 vs. $26,009)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 10.3% lower than costs at Lees McRae College ($12,446 vs. $13,730)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lees McRae College than Pacific Lutheran University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 98.9% larger than aid received Lees McRae College ($39,464 vs. $19,843)
Lees-McRae College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Lees-McRae College .
- Lees-McRae College has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than PLU (80.5%)
Lees-McRae College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lees-McRae College or PLU? 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 PLU and Lees-McRae College.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Lees McRae College (66% vs. 24%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $18,000 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $34,300)
- Lees McRae College students graduate with a $5,800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $25,800)
- Lees-McRae College graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($206 vs. $266)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 55%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/