Criminal justice
Ranked #97 of 379 for valueCriminal Justice and Corrections · 158 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $55,903
- Ranked-college median: $55,481
- Median debt
- $19,288
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Western Carolina University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 81.8% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 9,775 of 12,308 applicants were admitted. Middle 50% test scores: SAT Reading & Writing 560–660, SAT Math 520–610, ACT 19–25. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 10,024
Larger than 90% of colleges
National median 1,603
Western Carolina UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
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Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where Western Carolina University sits for you.
Take the fit quizAdmissions
Western Carolina University admitted 81.8% of 12,308 applicants.
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Applicants12,308
81.8% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted9,775
17.4% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)1,701
Middle 50% test scores
- SAT Reading & Writing
- 560–660
- 200800
- SAT Math
- 520–610
- 200800
- ACT Composite
- 19–25
- 136
Your chances
Check your chancesYour SAT or ACT against Western Carolina University- SAT, middle 50%
- 1080–1270
- ACT, middle 50%
- 19–25
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$13,025
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- In-state tuition & fees
- $4,685
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $8,685
- Average net price
- $13,025
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 39.2%
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Plan your costs for Western Carolina University
- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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Aid & Loan Plan$14 once
A PDF that applies the 2026–27 federal aid rules to you and up to three colleges: Pell Grant, loan limits, the gap left and repayment.
Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
61.1%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
79.1%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$53,764
Former students who received federal aid
Programs at Western Carolina University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Western Carolina University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Mathematics
Ranked #176 of 208 for valueMathematics · 17 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $59,885
- Ranked-college median: $71,273
- Median debt
- $21,954
- Ranked-college median: $18,563
Education
Ranked #182 of 521 for valueTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 127 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $47,105
- Ranked-college median: $48,822
- Median debt
- $19,339
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Kinesiology and exercise science
Ranked #228 of 459 for valueSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 36 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $50,761
- Ranked-college median: $53,707
- Median debt
- $21,720
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Accounting
Ranked #267 of 408 for valueAccounting and Related Services · 33 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $61,346
- Ranked-college median: $76,108
- Median debt
- $15,375
- Ranked-college median: $20,500
Marketing
Ranked #271 of 354 for valueMarketing · 158 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $56,568
- Ranked-college median: $67,486
- Median debt
- $20,000
- Ranked-college median: $19,523
Nursing
Ranked #274 of 686 for valueRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 266 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $79,533
- Ranked-college median: $85,171
- Median debt
- $15,193
- Ranked-college median: $20,938
Computer science
Ranked #278 of 466 for valueComputer Science · 23 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $86,853
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $20,518
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Engineering
Ranked #285 of 327 for valueEngineering, General · 37 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $82,500
- Ranked-college median: $91,742
- Median debt
- $25,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Finance
Ranked #287 of 330 for valueFinance and Financial Management Services · 78 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $58,076
- Ranked-college median: $77,916
- Median debt
- $18,615
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Communications
Ranked #307 of 388 for valueCommunication and Media Studies · 48 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $43,322
- Ranked-college median: $56,130
- Median debt
- $19,000
- Ranked-college median: $19,593
Political science
Ranked #332 of 388 for valuePolitical Science and Government · 27 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $52,077
- Ranked-college median: $63,181
- Median debt
- $23,000
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Psychology
Ranked #380 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 163 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $48,350
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $20,380
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Business
Ranked #484 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 270 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $57,713
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $17,823
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Biology
Ranked #484 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 74 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $50,180
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $21,218
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
10,024
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Doctoral/professional university
A Doctoral and Professional Degree University (which undergraduates attend).
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, NC, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC, United States
- Public
- Doctoral/professional university
Distant town
In a smaller urban cluster away from a large metro area.
- City
- Suburb
- Town (this campus)
- Rural
Nearest major cityAtlanta, GA · about 128 mi
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Semester
- Website
- wcu.edu
Colleges nearby
Southwestern Community College-North Carolina3 miSylva
Haywood Community College20.9 miClyde
Brevard College26.2 miBrevard
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College39.9 miAsheville
University of North Carolina at Asheville40.9 miAsheville
Blue Ridge Community College-North Carolina42.9 miFlat Rock
Colleges nearby
- Southwestern Community College-North Carolina3 mi from Western Carolina University
- Haywood Community College21 mi from Western Carolina University
- Brevard College26 mi from Western Carolina University
- Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College40 mi from Western Carolina University
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Western Carolina University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $13,025 a year after aid
Athletics
NCAA Division I · The largest programs and athletic scholarships; big-time game days.
- D-INCAA Division I (this college)
- D-IINCAA Division II
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
Tagged by CollegesRef editors as a big-time athletics school.
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Western Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro, side by side.
Compare with University of North Carolina at GreensboroFrequently asked questions
What is the Western Carolina University acceptance rate for 2026?
Western Carolina University admitted 81.8% of 12,308 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Western Carolina University tuition?
In-state tuition at Western Carolina University is $4,685 and out-of-state tuition is $8,685 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $13,025 a year.
What is the average net price at Western Carolina University?
The average net price at Western Carolina University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $13,025 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Western Carolina University?
61.1% of first-time, full-time students at Western Carolina University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Western Carolina University?
The closest matches are UNC Greensboro, East Carolina University, and North Carolina A & T State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
