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Is Lee University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Lee, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Lee sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $43,222 helps, but median debt of $25,750 plus yearly net price of $18,878 creates a tighter path. For context, Lee's net price is about 11% below the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$20,222
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $2,615 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $10,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$18,878
Median earnings 10 years out
$43,222
Median debt at graduation
$25,750
Graduation rate
62%
At Lee, a typical graduate carries about $25,750 in student debt and earns roughly $43,222 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $293 per month, or 8% of pre-tax income. That sits at the tighter end of a workable borrower range.
What this means for your family
Lee is a private nonprofit four year school in Cleveland, TN. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Cumberland
Lebanon, TN
Worth-It Score: 58/100
Median net price: $18,759
Private nonprofit 4-year
Maryville
Maryville, TN
Worth-It Score: 52/100
Median net price: $19,360
Private nonprofit 4-year
Carson-Newman
Jefferson City, TN
Worth-It Score: 51/100
Median net price: $20,251
Private nonprofit 4-year
Lincoln Memorial
Harrogate, TN
Worth-It Score: 53/100
Median net price: $20,406
Private nonprofit 4-year
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $20,614
Common questions about Lee
The median net price at Lee is $18,878 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Tennessee? See the most affordable private colleges in Tennessee →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →