Saint Mary's College of California vs. Lees-McRae College

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA with Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College of California is larger than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (2,734 students vs. 910 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Lees McRae College is in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting).
• Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; Lees McRae College 11:1.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Lees-McRae College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's College of California or Lees-McRae College? 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 Lees McRae College than Saint Mary's College of California ($29,833 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lees McRae College are 13.6% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($15,200 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 73.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lees-McRae College (about $24,553 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $33,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.8% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at Lees McRae College (about $24,553 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $33,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at Lees McRae College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 114.5% larger than aid received by Lees McRae College students ($42,407 vs. $19,774).

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Lees-McRae College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's College of California or Lees-McRae College? 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 Lees-McRae College and Saint Mary's College of California.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 20 points higher than at Lees-McRae College (1140).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at Lees-McRae College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; Lees McRae College 1040/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; Lees McRae College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; Lees-McRae College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Lees-McRae College (76.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California vs. 13.9% at Lees-McRae College.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. Lees-McRae College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California and Lees-McRae College? 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Lees McRae College's (24%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $32,500 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 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 Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($20,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($206 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.