Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lees McRae College is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (910 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver than Lees-McRae College ($18,581 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 4.8% lower than at Lees McRae College ($14,474 vs. $15,200).
• Lees McRae College is 130.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $18,842 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.8% higher at Lees-McRae College than at Penn State Beaver (about $9,116 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lees McRae College than at Penn State Beaver (97% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lees McRae College students is 118.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($19,774 vs. $9,045).

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver and Lees-McRae College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 50 points higher than at Lees-McRae College (1140).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver 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; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Lees-McRae College (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lees-McRae College and Penn State Beaver? 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).

• Penn State Beaver's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $21,000 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lees McRae College graduates have a $6,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($20,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($206 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.