Lees-McRae College vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Lees McRae College or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lees-McRae College or USC Aiken is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Lees McRae College vs. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Lees McRae College University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Lees-McRae College USC Aiken
Location Banner Elk, NC Aiken, SC
Setting Distant Rural Rural Fringe
Enrollment 839 3,855
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #883
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lmc.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Lees-McRae College USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $28,790 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $28,790 $20,856
Room & Board $13,730 $8,736
Avg Net Price $26,009 $11,697
Avg Grant Aid $19,843 $9,701
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 Lees-McRae College USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,787 2,905
Admitted 1,443 2,316
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 79.7%
Enrolled % 13.8% 26.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.19
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 17/23
SAT Range 1040/1240 970/1200
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Lees-McRae College USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (25%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

 Lees-McRae College USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 24% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,300 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $206 $268

Diversity

 Lees-McRae College USC Aiken
% Men 1% 6%
% Women 2% 13%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 58%
% Black 7% 27%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 18% 2%

Students

 Lees-McRae College USC Aiken
% In-State 52% 88%
% Out-of-State 44% 11%

Campus

 Lees-McRae College USC Aiken
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is larger than than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (3,855 students vs. 839 students)

Lees-McRae College vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or USC Aiken?

  • Lees McRae College is 176.9% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($28,790.00 vs. $10,398.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38% higher at Lees-McRae College than University of South Carolina Aiken ($28,790.00 vs. $20,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Lees-McRae College ($11,697 vs. $26,009)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 57.2% lower than costs at Lees McRae College ($8,736 vs. $13,730)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lees McRae College than University of South Carolina Aiken (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lees McRae College students is 104.5% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($19,843 vs. $9,701)

Lees-McRae College vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or USC Aiken? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC Aiken or Lees-McRae College .

  • Lees-McRae College has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than USC Aiken (79.7%)

Lees-McRae College vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lees-McRae College or USC Aiken? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USC Aiken and Lees-McRae College.

  • The graduation rate at USC Aiken is higher than Lees McRae College (41% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn on average $5,300 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates after ten years. ($39,600 vs. $34,300)
  • Lees McRae College students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($20,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Lees-McRae College graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($206 vs. $268)
  • More Lees-McRae College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Aiken students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/