Lees-McRae College vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Military Institute is larger than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 910 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lees McRae College is located in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lees McRae College 11:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Lees-McRae College vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or VMI? 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 Virginia Military Institute than Lees-McRae College ($18,825 vs. $29,833).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 25.6% lower than at Lees McRae College ($11,310 vs. $15,200).
• Lees McRae College is 58% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $12,204 more per year; $33,250.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.3% higher at VMI than at Lees McRae College (about $19,388 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $33,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lees McRae College than at Virginia Military Institute (97% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 20.5% larger than aid received by Lees McRae College students ($23,821 vs. $19,774).

Lees-McRae College vs. VMI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 20 points higher than at Lees-McRae College (1140).
• Incoming VMI students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 23 at Lees-McRae College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 1040/1240; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lees McRae College 20/26; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lees-McRae College - Test-free; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Lees-McRae College has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Lees-McRae College vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Lees-McRae College vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $27,800 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lees McRae College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($20,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($206 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.