Western Carolina University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It enrolls 10,024 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes55
Value79
Affordability68
Selectivity39
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 81.8%, Western Carolina University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
81.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1080 – 1270
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Western Carolina University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
18.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Western Carolina University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,315 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,315
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,630
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,630
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,354
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,854
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,381
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,381
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,992
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,816
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,012
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,605
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,060
Over $110,000
$17,992
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,99825%percentile
$21,868Medianpercentile
$25,98375%percentile
$31,24990%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,500
↓ $5,368
No Pell $14,250
↓ $7,618
Dependent students $15,796
↓ $6,072
Independent students $14,139
↓ $7,729
Female students $15,250
↓ $6,618
Male students $15,429
↓ $6,439
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($21,868), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Carolina University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Carolina University earn a median of $49,458 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,458
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,700, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western Carolina University is home to 10,024 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
10,024
Part-Time
18%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.3%7,547
Hispanic 8.8%881
Black 6.7%669
Other 5.4%542
International 1.7%170
Asian 1.3%128
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Carolina University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantCullowhee, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential4,760 beds on campus
Adult Learners
20%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Western Carolina University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
81 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Carolina University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,808
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$126M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,673
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
549 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
120
22%
$105,829
Associate Professors
144
26%
$79,438
Assistant Professors
175
32%
$74,701
Instructors
110
20%
$54,367
Pros & Cons of Western Carolina University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Carolina University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Western Carolina University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Carolina University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Carolina University.
Is Western Carolina University hard to get into?
Western Carolina University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Carolina University?
Western Carolina University has an acceptance rate of 81.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Western Carolina University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Western Carolina University scored between 1080 and 1270 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Western Carolina University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Western Carolina University scored between 19 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Western Carolina University cost?
The average net price after aid at Western Carolina University is $13,315 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Carolina University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,458 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,315 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western Carolina University known for?
Western Carolina University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western Carolina University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Carolina University are $49,458, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western Carolina University accredited?
Yes. Western Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Western Carolina University?
Western Carolina University enrolls 10,024 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western Carolina University?
Western Carolina University graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western Carolina University a public or private college?
Western Carolina University is a Public institution.
Where is Western Carolina University located?
Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
What programs does Western Carolina University offer?
Western Carolina University offers 81 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Carolina University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Carolina University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
Other colleges in North Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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