Western Carolina University, NC

location_on  Highway 107, Cullowhee, NC 28723 • language  wcu.edu • workspace_premium  1.9 star
Public 4-Year Medium Primarily Residential Master's College and University Selective High Transfer-In Main Campus

Academics

Academics

Bachelor’s 100%
Associate’s N/A
Certificate N/A
Highest Degree Grad

Graduates by Field of Study

Biological and Biomedical Sciences4%
Business, Management, Marketing20%
Communication, Journalism3%
Computer and Information Sciences1%
Education9%
Engineering2%
Engineering Technologies5%
English Language and Literature2%
Foreign Languages, Linguistics1%
Health Professions and Related Programs19%
History1%
Law Enforcement, Firefighting7%
Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities1%
Mathematics and Statistics1%
Multi-disciplinary Studies0%
Natural Resources and Conservation2%
Parks, Recreation, Fitness Studies3%
Philosophy and Religious Studies0%
Physical Sciences2%
Psychology5%
Public Administration and Social Service5%
Social Sciences4%
Visual and Performing Arts5%

Admissions

Admissions

Admission Rate 40%
Median SAT Math 555
Median SAT Reading 565
Median ACT Composite 23

Typical Test Scores

SAT Math (25–75%) 510–600
200 800
SAT Reading (25–75%) 520–610
200 800
ACT Composite (25–75%) 20–25
1 36

Cost

Cost of Attendance

In-State Tuition $4,000
Out-of-State Tuition $8,000
Average Total Cost $21,000
Average Net Cost $16,000
Attendance Costs by Family Income School State US
$0–$30K $11,000 $9,514 $11,406
$30K–$48K $13,000 $10,673 $12,318
$48K–$75K $17,000 $13,406 $15,178
$75K–$110K $20,000 $16,874 $18,184
>$110K $21,000 $20,450 $20,813

Student Debt

Student Debt

Receive Federal Loans 59%
Median Federal Debt $16,000
Repayment Rate 59%
Median Payment $233
Financial Aid Recipients School State US
$0–$30K 		32% 45% 46%
$30K–$48K 		18% 17% 16%
$48K–$75K 		17% 14% 14%
$75K–$110K 		17% 11% 10%
>$110K 		16% 15% 15%
Student Debt School State US
The median debt for family income between $0–$30K $15,000 $12,848 $12,538
The median debt for family income between $30K–$75K $16,000 $13,603 $12,978
The median debt for students with family income >$75K $16,000 $13,196 $12,789
The median debt for Pell students $17,000 $13,654 $13,487
The median debt for no-Pell students $14,000 $11,738 $11,749
Cumulative loan debt at the 90th percentile $31,000 $28,446 $28,917
Cumulative loan debt at the 75th percentile $26,000 $21,176 $20,751
Cumulative loan debt at the 25th percentile $7,000 $5,952 $5,959
Cumulative loan debt at the 10th percentile $4,000 $3,408 $3,316
Loan Repayment Rates School State US
1-year after entering repayment 		53% 46% 49%
3-years after entering repayment 		59% 51% 54%
5-years after entering repayment 		64% 58% 59%
7-years after entering repayment 		71% 66% 65%

Completion

Graduation and Retention

Retention Rate 80%
Transfer Rate 27%
Withdrawal Rate 11%
Graduation Rate 60%
Time Taken to Graduate School State US
Within 4 Years 		40% 36% 33%
Within 6 Years 		60% 50% 49%
Within 8 Years 		58% 52% 52%
Graduation by Ethnicity School State US
Asian 		58% 59% 57%
Black 		67% 45% 41%
Caucasian 		62% 53% 53%
Hispanic or Latino 		58% 53% 47%
Native American or Alaskan Native 		43% 53% 55%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 		100% 74% 63%
Non-US citizens/residents 		44% 59% 58%
Two or more races 		51% 49% 48%
Other race 		88% 56% 53%

Students

Student Enrollment

Undergraduates 9,835
Full-time Undergrads 66%
Avg Entry Age 22
Graduate Students 1,612
Enrollment by Gender School State US
Female degree-seeking undergraduates 		54% 58% 57%
Male degree-seeking undergraduates 		46% 42% 43%
Enrollment by Race and Nativity School State US
Asian 		1% 4% 7%
Black 		5% 23% 13%
Caucasian 		79% 55% 50%
Hispanic or Latino 		7% 8% 19%
Native American or Alaskan Native 		1% 1% 1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 		0% 0% 0%
Non-US citizens/residents 		1% 2% 4%
Two or more races 		4% 4% 4%
Other race 		1% 3% 4%
Enrollment by Family Income School State US
$0–$30K 		26% 37% 37%
$30K–$48K 		18% 19% 17%
$48K–$75K 		18% 16% 16%
$75K–$110K 		19% 14% 14%
>$110K 		19% 19% 19%

Nearby Colleges

Southwestern Community College
3 miles, N • 1.4 star
Haywood Community College
21 miles, NE • 1.4 star
Brevard College
26 miles, SE • 1.4 star

Nearby Airports

Asheville Regional Airport
37 miles, E • 1.4 star
McGhee Tyson Airport
57 miles, NW • 2.3 star
Tri-Cities Airport
92 miles, NE • 1 star