Lenoir-Rhyne University vs Lees-McRae College

Lenoir-Rhyne University and Lees-McRae College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in North Carolina, offer distinct educational experiences. Lenoir-Rhyne, a private university with a long history dating back to 1891, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to Lees-McRae's selective admissions (65%). While Lenoir-Rhyne's student body is more diverse, Lees-McRae's smaller size fosters a close-knit community. Both institutions excel in different areas: Lenoir-Rhyne is known for its strong nursing and business programs, while Lees-McRae shines in outdoor recreation and environmental studies. With Lenoir-Rhyne's higher graduation rate (62%) and Lees-McRae's lower cost of attendance, the choice between these two excellent institutions ultimately depends on individual preferences and academic goals. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your aspirations.

	Lees-McRae College	Lenoir-Rhyne University
Overview
Location	Banner Elk, North Carolina	Hickory, North Carolina
Campus setting	Rural: Distant	City: Small
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	67.0%	62.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation	Presbyterian	Evangelical

Admission
Acceptance rate	59.2%	85.7%
Application fees	$25	Undergraduate: $35 Graduate: $35
SAT range	1040 - 1240	N/A
ACT range	20 - 26	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	17.0%
Students submitting ACT score	26.0%
Total number of applicants	1,777	4,847
Total number of admissions given out	1,052	4,155
Admitted students who chose to enroll	247	382
Yield rate	23.5%	9.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$43,040	$58,910
Average net price	$25,894	$21,739
Tuition	$26,490	$41,500
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $5,400 Meal plan: $6,150	$12,800
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $18,350	100.0% Average amount $32,070
Students receiving federal student loan	75.0% Average amount $6,664	70.0% Average amount $5,253
Students taking out private loans	6.0% Average amount $13,196	9.0% Average amount $13,819

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	872 Men 34.7% Women 65.3%	1,579 Men 42.2% Women 57.8%
Graduate students	1 Men 0.0% Women 100.0%	826 Men 25.8% Women 74.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Very Low	Low
Out-of-state students	47.5%	17.4%
International students	3.3%	4.4%
Campus local/setting	Rural: Distant	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	680	1,039
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	North Carolina South Carolina Florida Virginia Georgia	North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida Virginia

Academics
Popular study areas	Biological and Biomedical Sciences Health Professions Education Public Administration and Social Service Business	Health Professions Business Education Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio	11:1	12:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	40.4%	48.2%
Dropout rate	18.2%	51.6%
Transferred out	41.4%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $59,914 Year 2: $63,935 Year 3: $66,973 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $33,268 Year 2: $44,649 Year 3: $49,738 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $35,351 Year 2: $34,393 Year 3: $36,519 Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,325 Year 2: $28,816 Year 3: $36,175 Zoology/Animal Biology (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $18,174 Year 2: $20,596 Year 3: $25,820 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $21,052 Year 3: N/A Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,560 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $17,244 Year 2: $23,456 Year 3: N/A Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,980 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $64,504 Year 2: $66,236 Year 3: $65,004 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $56,396 Year 2: $48,265 Year 3: $56,352 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $47,513 Year 2: $48,849 Year 3: $54,337 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $37,847 Year 2: $37,928 Year 3: $43,319 Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $41,616 Year 2: $42,235 Year 3: $42,896 Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $23,411 Year 2: $29,374 Year 3: $36,667 Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $63,193 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Human Services, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $36,924 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $72,965 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $68,990 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A

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