Lee University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Lee University is a private research university in Cleveland, Tennessee, serving roughly 2,617 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 70.52% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $43,222 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $23,790
- 2024 Average Net Price: $18,878 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 70.52% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,617 92.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 62.59%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
- First-Generation Students: 31.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 1.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 84.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1145
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,829
- Applicants (IPEDS): 2,150
- Room & Board: $10,110 annual estimate
Lee University: what the data shows
Common questions about Lee University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Lee University?
Lee University is located in Cleveland, TN (ZIP 37311).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Lee University public or private?
Lee University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Lee University cost?
Published tuition: $23,790.
Average net price after aid: $18,878.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,834 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,845 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,029 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,699 |
| $110,001+ | $24,641 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $95,160.
How hard is it to get into Lee University?
Admission rate: 70.52%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1145 and midpoint ACT 24.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Lee University?
Total enrollment: 2,617 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,829 students.
Graduate enrollment: 443 students.
About 92% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Lee University?
150%-time completion rate: 62.59%.
First-year retention: 82.3%.
What do graduates of Lee University earn?
Median earnings: $38,082 six years after entry; $43,222 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,750.
28.74% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Lee University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (80 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (54 completions)
- Psychology, General (53 completions)
- Pastoral Studies/Counseling (50 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (43 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (26 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (24 completions)
- Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling (22 completions)
- Accounting (22 completions)
- Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other (19 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Lee University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 70.52%; completion rate 62.59%; median earnings $43,222 at 10 years; net price $18,878. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$23,790
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Lee University was $23,790.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$18,878
2024 Value
In 2024 Lee University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,878.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$75,512 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$18,878 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$95,160 4-Year Tuition
$10,110 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,320 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$35,220 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$140,880 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Lee University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
28.74% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
41.96% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Lee University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Lee University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $13,750 | $13,750 | $13,104 |
| 2014 | $14,280 | $14,280 | $15,394 |
| 2015 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $19,246 |
| 2016 | $15,770 | $15,770 | $17,392 |
| 2017 | $16,730 | $16,730 | $18,168 |
| 2018 | $17,690 | $17,690 | $18,485 |
| 2019 | $18,770 | $18,770 | $17,696 |
| 2020 | $19,540 | $19,540 | $18,219 |
| 2021 | $20,500 | $20,500 | $19,443 |
| 2022 | $21,730 | $21,730 | $20,083 |
| 2023 | $22,690 | $22,690 | $20,399 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
70.52% Acceptance Rate
2,150 Total Applicants
1,552 Students Admitted
553 First-Time Students Enrolled
35.63% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1145
ACT Average: 24
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Lee University reported total enrollment of about 2,617 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (79.8%), Two or More Races (6.1%), and Black or African American (3.9%). About 28.74% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 31.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
92.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Lee University in 2024 is 2,617 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,829 students. Graduate enrollment is about 443 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 79.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
50.80% 100% Completion Time
62.59% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 50.80% of students graduating from Lee University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 61% male / 39% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 11% male / 89% female
- Psychology, General: 19% male / 81% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Lee University.
Return on Investment
$25,750 Median Student Debt
$43,222 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
59.58% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
472.39% Return on Investment
6.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Lee University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 92 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 80 completions
2. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 54 completions
3. Psychology, General: 53 completions
4. Pastoral Studies/Counseling: 50 completions
5. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 43 completions
6. Elementary Education and Teaching: 26 completions
7. Health Professions and Related Programs: 24 completions
8. Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling: 22 completions
9. Accounting: 22 completions
Most popular programs at Lee University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Lee University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Lee University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 84.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,655
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,868
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Lee University is a private non-profit institution located in Cleveland, TN, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 2,617 students. Student body composition includes White (79.8%), Two or More Races (6.1%), Black or African American (3.9%). The admission rate is 70.52%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1145. The 150%-time completion rate is 62.59%. Approximately 28.74% of students receive Pell Grants. About 31.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Location
Cleveland, TN 37311
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 92 distinct degree programs, Lee University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lee University located?
Lee University is located in Cleveland, TN.
What is Lee University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Lee University is 70.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,150 applicants and 1,552 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Lee University cost?
Reported tuition is $23,790 and average net price is $18,878 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,110 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Lee University?
Lee University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,829 students, White (79.8%), Two or More Races (6.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Lee University?
About 31.2% of students at Lee University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Lee University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Lee University reports midpoint SAT about 1145 and midpoint ACT about 24.
What do graduates of Lee University earn?
Median earnings are $38,082 six years after entry and $43,222 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Lee University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 62.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Lee University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,750.
Is Lee University public or private?
Lee University is a private nonprofit institution located in Cleveland, TN.
Is Lee University an HBCU?
No. Lee University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Lee University a tribal college?
No. Lee University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Tennessee college costs
- Tennessee colleges by ROI
- Cleveland, Tennessee city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Tennessee
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.