Last Updated on August 4, 2026 2:46 pm
BANNER ELK, N.C. — Enrollment numbers for the 2026-27 academic year are rolling in, and while higher education institutions across the country grapple with the challenges of the demographic cliff, demand for a degree from Lees-McRae College has never been higher.
Interest in the college has gone up across the board, from applications to deposits, surpassing initial goals for the Fall 2026 semester. Compared to the 2025-26 academic year, the college has seen an increase in applications of more than 26%, and an increase in deposits—which secure a student's spot for the upcoming academic year—of nearly 12% for 2026-27.
“The experiential academic programs we offer at Lees-McRae set our school apart and continue to appeal to students looking for a distinctive education that will prepare them for the professional world,” President Lee King said. “The growth we are seeing is exciting, and we at Lees-McRae are passionate about making improvements and expansions that keep pace with that demand.”
To accommodate for this increase in demand, Lees-McRae has made exciting updates and expansions across Residence Life, athletics, and academics. Thanks to a generous and record-setting donation from Smoky and Margaret Bissell, a new townhouse village construction project is underway. The project will be completed for the Fall 2027 semester and will offer 144 new student beds.
In addition to expansions in student housing, the college has also expanded its athletic offerings. With a new women's flag football team marking their inaugural season in the 2025-26 academic year, men's and women's golf kicking off in Fall 2026, and a new baseball team set to begin competition in Spring 2028, more student-athletes than ever before will find their home at Lees-McRae.
On the academic front, the college is eager to begin instructing two new graduate degree programs, a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Wildlife Conservation Science. The programs, which are scheduled to begin instruction for the Fall 2027 semester, will become part of the PEAK Experience, the campus-wide model for student success and engagement that prioritizes hands-on learning and developing essential skills. The PEAK Experience is implemented across all undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as athletics, student life, and career preparedness.
Steady growth across enrollment, student housing, athletics, and academics are just four of the major ways Lees-McRae continues to achieve excellence. Stay informed of the college's latest updates at www.lmc.edu.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Lees-McRae College is a private, residential college that awards baccalaureate and graduate degrees. At nearly 4,000 feet—the highest elevation of any campus on the East Coast—the college celebrates its location through distinct programming. An emphasis on experiential education inspires students to learn by doing and gain broad knowledge through study across disciplines. To provide continuing education opportunities for all, the college also offers bachelor's and master's programs online and in surrounding communities. For more information, please visit www.lmc.edu or call 828.898.5241.
