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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU GS| Lees McRae College | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Lees-McRae College | WCU | ||
| Location | Banner Elk, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Rural | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 855 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lmc.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lees-McRae College | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $26,490 | $1,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,490 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,200 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,108 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,205 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Lees-McRae College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,733 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 1,063 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 61.3% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.9% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1240 | 1020/1240 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Lees-McRae College | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lees-McRae College | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 24% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $34,300 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 55% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,000 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $206 | $227 |
Diversity |
Lees-McRae College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 35% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 65% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 18% | 1% |
Students |
Lees-McRae College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 45% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 50% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Lees-McRae College | WCU | ||
| 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
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 855 students)
Lees-McRae College vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lees-McRae College or WCU?
- Lees McRae College is 2,549% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($26,490.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 429.8% higher at Lees-McRae College than Western Carolina University ($26,490.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Lees-McRae College ($13,022 vs. $24,108)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 9.2% lower than costs at Lees McRae College ($11,173 vs. $12,200)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lees McRae College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lees McRae College students is 302.2% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($18,205 vs. $4,526)
Lees-McRae College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lees-McRae College or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Lees-McRae College .
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Lees-McRae College (61.3%)
Lees-McRae College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lees-McRae College or WCU? 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 WCU and Lees-McRae College.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Lees McRae College (50% vs. 24%)
- Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $34,300)
- Lees McRae College students graduate with a $2,010 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $22,010)
- Lees-McRae College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($206 vs. $227)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 55%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/