Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State New Kensington

Comparable Facts

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

Lees McRae College is larger than Penn State New Kensington based on total student enrollment (910 students vs. 421 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State New Kensington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington than Lees-McRae College ($19,504 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 New Kensington ($15,200 vs. $15,274).
• Lees McRae College is 130.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State New Kensington (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 New Kensington (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 New Kensington (97% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lees McRae College students is 153.2% larger than aid received by Penn State New Kensington students ($19,774 vs. $7,809).

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State New Kensington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State New Kensington (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 New Kensington 1110/1265.
• 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 New Kensington - Test optional.
• Penn State New Kensington has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Lees-McRae College (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 22% at Penn State New Kensington.

Lees-McRae College vs. Penn State New Kensington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lees-McRae College and Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington 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 New Kensington graduates ($206 vs. $277).
• More Penn State New Kensington 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.