Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the University of North Carolina system.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 82%
- Average net price: $13,767
- Undergraduate enrollment: 11,291
- Graduation rate (150%): 60%
- Graduation rate (200%): 62%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 67%
- Student to faculty ratio: 16:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $49,458
- Median earnings (8 years): $45,617
- Median earnings (6 years): $43,085
- Control: Public
- Locale: Town, distant
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Cullowhee, NC
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Western Carolina University include Nursing, Business Administration and Management, Psychology.
- Nursing (266 bachelor's) · median earnings $79,533 4 years after graduation · median debt $17,500
- Business Administration and Management (255 bachelor's) · median earnings $57,713 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,836
- Psychology (150 bachelor's) · median earnings $48,350 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,813
- Criminal Justice (139 bachelor's) · median earnings $55,903 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,430
- Health Services (121 bachelor's) · median earnings $79,533 4 years after graduation · median debt $17,500
- Public Administration (105 bachelor's) · median earnings $70,331 4 years after graduation · median debt $17,234
- Emergency Medical Technology (91 bachelor's) · median earnings $65,010 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,090
- Kindergarten (82 bachelor's) · median earnings $47,105 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,900
- Marketing (70 bachelor's) · median earnings $56,568 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,922
- Biology (68 bachelor's) · median earnings $50,180 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,193
Degree mix: Business 39%, Engineering 3%, Computer Science 1%, Health 39%, Biological Sciences 4%, Psychology 10%, Communication 4%.
Award levels offered: Certificates, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Western Carolina University students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $8,816 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $8,816
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $10,012
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $12,605
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $17,060
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $17,992
- In-state tuition and fees: $4,630
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $8,630
- Books and supplies: $800
- On-campus room and board: $12,354
- Off-campus room and board: $12,854
- Off-campus with family: $3,381
- Typical cost of attendance: $19,992
- Sticker vs net gap: 31%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 35%
- Federal loan recipients: 44%
- Average institutional grant: $2,590
- Average federal loan: $5,618
- Median debt at graduation: $21,868
Admissions
Western Carolina University admits 82% of applicants. Of students admitted, 13% enrolled.
- Applications: 19,742
- Admitted: 16,154
- Enrolled: 2,052
- Yield (first-choice signal): 13%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 11,291
- Women: 59%
- Commuter share (estimated): 60%
- Part-time undergraduates: 18%
- Age 25 and older: 20%
- Graduate students: 1,045
- Graduation rate: 60%
- Come back after freshman year: 79%
- First-generation: 33%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 43%
- Student to faculty: 16:1
- Professor salary: $109,028
- Associate professor salary: $81,745
- Assistant professor salary: $77,595
- On-campus housing capacity: 4,570
- Average SAT: 1,180
- Average ACT: 23
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Western Carolina University acceptance rate? Western Carolina University admits 82% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Western Carolina University cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $8,816 a year after aid. Average net price is $13,767.
What majors does Western Carolina University offer? Popular programs include Nursing, Business Administration and Management, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Health Services.
What is the average salary after Western Carolina University? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $49,458 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Western Carolina University graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 67% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 60%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Western Carolina University official site: https://wcu.edu.