Lees-McRae College vs. Randolph

Comparable Facts

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

Lees McRae College is larger than Randolph based on total student enrollment (910 students vs. 816 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Randolph College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Randolph College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Randolph College 8:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. Randolph Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or Randolph? 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 Randolph College than Lees-McRae College ($21,668 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Randolph College are 18.8% lower than at Lees McRae College ($12,350 vs. $15,200).
• Lees McRae College is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Randolph (about $2,940 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $30,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.7% higher at Lees-McRae College than at Randolph College (about $2,940 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $30,310.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Randolph College than at Lees McRae College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Randolph College students is 18.2% larger than aid received by Lees McRae College students ($23,372 vs. $19,774).

Lees-McRae College vs. Randolph Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Randolph College (1160) is 20 points higher than at Lees-McRae College (1140).
• Incoming Lees-McRae College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at Randolph).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 1040/1240; Randolph College 1100/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26; Randolph College 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; Randolph - Test optional.
• Randolph has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than Lees-McRae College (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 11.7% at Randolph.

Lees-McRae College vs. Randolph Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lees-McRae College and Randolph? 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).

• Randolph College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Randolph College earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,200 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 Randolph graduates ($20,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Randolph graduates ($206 vs. $279).
• More Randolph graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.