Northwestern College vs. Lees-McRae College

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern College in Orange City, IA with Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Northwestern College is larger than Lees-McRae College based on total student enrollment (1,705 students vs. 910 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern College is located in Orange City, IA (Distant Town setting); Lees McRae College is in Banner Elk, NC (Distant Rural setting).
• Northwestern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lees McRae College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern College 15:1; Lees McRae College 11:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 28.3% lower than at Lees McRae College ($10,900 vs. $15,200).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.4% higher at Northwestern College than at Lees McRae College (about $3,460 more per year; $36,710 vs. $33,250).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern College than at Lees McRae College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 19% larger than aid received by Lees McRae College students ($23,537 vs. $19,774).

Admissions details

• Incoming Northwestern College students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 23) as students at Lees-McRae College (23).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Northwestern College and Lees-McRae College.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at Northwestern College vs. 13.9% at Lees-McRae College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lees McRae College graduates have a $5,092 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($20,000 vs. $25,092).
• Among borrowers, Lees-McRae College graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($206 vs. $259).
• More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lees-McRae College students, three years after graduation (85% vs. 55%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.