Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State Fayette- Eberly

Comparable Facts

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

Lees McRae College is larger than Penn State Fayette- Eberly based on total student enrollment (910 students vs. 405 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Penn State Fayette Eberly is in Lemont Furnace, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Fayette Eberly is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Penn State Fayette Eberly 9:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State Fayette- Eberly Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or Penn State Fayette- Eberly? 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 Fayette Eberly than Lees-McRae College ($15,112 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lees McRae College are 0.5% lower than at Penn State Fayette Eberly ($15,200 vs. $15,274).
• Lees McRae College is 130.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Fayette- Eberly (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 Fayette Eberly (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 Fayette Eberly (97% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lees McRae College students is 105% larger than aid received by Penn State Fayette Eberly students ($19,774 vs. $9,644).

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State Fayette- Eberly Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Fayette Eberly (1190) is 50 points higher than at Lees-McRae College (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 1040/1240; Penn State Fayette Eberly 1120/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; Penn State Fayette- Eberly - Test optional.
• Penn State Fayette- Eberly has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Lees-McRae College (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 14% at Penn State Fayette- Eberly.

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State Fayette- Eberly Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lees-McRae College and Penn State Fayette- Eberly? 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 Fayette Eberly's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Penn State Fayette Eberly 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 Fayette- Eberly 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 Fayette- Eberly graduates ($206 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Fayette- Eberly 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.