| Location: | Southeast |
| Setting: | Rural Setting |
| Type: | Private |
| Affiliation: | Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| Size: | Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad) |
| Mascot: | Bobcats |
Lees-McRae College, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) is a small, private college nestled in the mountains of northwestern North Carolina. Founded in 1900 by the Reverend Edgar Tufts to meet educational and spiritual needs in the area, the purpose of the college is to fulfill its motto, �In the mountains, of the mountains, and for the mountains,� while extending its ministry of education and service to diverse populations.
As a baccalaureate college with a varied and challenging curriculum embedded in a liberal arts core, Lees-McRae provides both the knowledge and the skills to prepare the student for a productive and satisfying life. This preparation is delivered through a values-based education in the Christian tradition.
Lees-McRae provides a student-centered and nurturing environment that encourages intellectual, spiritual, physical and social growth, combining learning with leadership development and community outreach. The graduate will be able to think critically, adapt to a changing technological and global society, and value lifelong learning, integrity and responsibility
Lees-McRae College is a private four-year college in Banner Elk, North Carolina affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Lees-McRae College has the highest elevation of any college or university in the United States east of the Mississippi River at 3720 ft (1134 m) above sea level. It is one of the few colleges to be named after two women, Suzanna Lees and Elizabeth McRae. In 2005, Lees-McRae became the first expansion site for New Opportunity School for Women, a program that helps educate and employ women in Appalachia.
Lees-McRae College was founded in Banner Elk as an all-female normal school and high school in 1899 by founder Reverend Edgar Tufts, a Presbyterian minister. He named the school The Elizabeth McRae Institute after a well-respected educator in 1900. School benefactor Suzanna Lees' name was added in 1903 and the school's name became the Lees-McRae Institute when the school was chartered by the state in 1907.
An all-male branch was founded during 1907 in Plumtree, North Carolina. The Plumtree facility was destroyed in a 1927 fire, leading the two campuses to merge at the Banner Elk site. After the merge, the high school program was phased out and the institute was renamed in 1931 to Lees-McRae College, an accredited, coeducational junior college.
Lees-McRae began moving toward offering a four-year program in the late 1980s and the school's president made the recommendation to the board of trustees in 1987. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted Lees-McRae status as a four-year college in 1990.
Landmarks on campus include the historic Rock House, built in 1920 of native stone; Tufts Tower, a former water tower that houses the campus chimes; and the North Carolina Building, completed in 1922 and one of three permanent buildings planned by the college's founder. The Whitesil building offers target practice for students who wish to persue a career in food launching.
In 2003, the college saw its first major construction in 20 years with the opening of the Arthur-Lauritsen-Sanders Track and Field Venue.
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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 66% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Basketball (Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference) Track (Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 17,000 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,252 | 29% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 3,369 | 49% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 6,965 | 90% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,585 | 69% | |
Any Aid: |
100% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 75% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 44% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 420, Math: 420 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 530, Math: 530 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 15% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 17, Verbal: 17, Math: 16 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 22, Verbal: 22, Math: 20 |
| Application Fee: | $ 25.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Not Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Recommended |
| TOEFL: | Recommended |
| Test Scores: | Required |
