Samford University vs. Lees-McRae College

Should I go to Samford University or Lees McRae College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Samford University or Lees-McRae College 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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Samford University vs. Lees McRae College comparison
Samford University Lees McRae College College 3 College 4
Samford University
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Overview

Samford University Lees-McRae College
Location Birmingham, AL Banner Elk, NC
Setting Large Suburban Distant Rural
Enrollment 5,682 855
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #213
Religious Affiliation Baptist Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu lmc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University Lees-McRae College
Tuition (In State) $35,750 $26,490
Tuition (Out of State) $35,750 $26,490
Room & Board $11,264 $12,200
Avg Net Price $31,803 $24,108
Avg Grant Aid $20,711 $18,205
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Samford University Lees-McRae College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,337 1,733
Admitted 3,611 1,063
Acceptance Rate 83.3% 61.3%
Enrolled % 27% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 20/26
SAT Range 1080/1270 1040/1240
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Samford University Lees-McRae College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)

Outcomes

Samford University Lees-McRae College
Graduation Rate 70% 24%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $34,300
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $206

Diversity

Samford University Lees-McRae College
% Men 32% 35%
% Women 68% 65%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 67%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 18%

Students

Samford University Lees-McRae College
% In-State 25% 45%
% Out-of-State 74% 50%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Samford University is larger than than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (5,682 students vs. 855 students)

Samford University vs. Lees-McRae College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or Lees-McRae College?

  • Samford University is 35% more expensive to attend than Lees-McRae College for in-state tuition ($35,750.00 vs. $26,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35% higher at Samford University than Lees McRae College ($35,750.00 vs. $26,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lees McRae College than Samford University ($24,108 vs. $31,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Samford University are 8.3% lower than costs at Lees McRae College ($11,264 vs. $12,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lees McRae College than Samford University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 13.8% larger than aid received Lees McRae College ($20,711 vs. $18,205)

Samford University vs. Lees-McRae College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than Lees-McRae College (61.3%)

Samford University vs. Lees-McRae College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford University or Lees-McRae College? 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 Lees-McRae College and Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Lees McRae College (70% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $23,100 more per year than Lees-McRae College graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $34,300)
  • Lees McRae College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Samford University graduates. ($20,000 vs. $22,500)
  • Lees-McRae College graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Samford University graduates. ($206 vs. $232)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 55%)

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