Lees-McRae College vs. SVU

Comparable Facts

Compare Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC with Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Virginia University is larger than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (936 students vs. 910 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Southern Virginia University is in Buena Vista, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Virginia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Southern Virginia University 14:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. SVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or SVU? 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 Southern Virginia University than Lees-McRae College ($24,561 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 34.9% lower than at Lees McRae College ($9,894 vs. $15,200).
• Lees McRae College is 56.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SVU (about $11,970 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $21,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 56.2% higher at Lees-McRae College than at Southern Virginia University (about $11,970 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $21,280.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Virginia University than at Lees McRae College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lees McRae College students is 96.9% larger than aid received by Southern Virginia University students ($19,774 vs. $10,041).

Lees-McRae College vs. SVU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lees McRae College (1140) is 40 points higher than at SVU (1100).
• Incoming Lees-McRae College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at SVU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 1040/1240; Southern Virginia University 943/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26; Southern Virginia University 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; SVU - Test-free.
• SVU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Lees-McRae College (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 21.4% at SVU.

Lees-McRae College vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Southern Virginia University's six-year graduation rate (25%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Southern Virginia University earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lees McRae College graduates have a $3,654 lower median loan debt than SVU graduates ($20,000 vs. $23,654).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SVU graduates ($206 vs. $244).
• More Lees-McRae College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 53%)

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.