# Western Carolina University

> Western Carolina University's acceptance rate is 81.8% (CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, 12,308 applicants). It is a public university in Cullowhee, NC, with 10,024 students. The average net price after grants is $13,025 a year. The six-year graduation rate is 61.1%, and median earnings ten years after entry are $53,764.

Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Federal source years are listed with each table.

- Profile: https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-carolina-university-3224
- Location: Cullowhee, NC, United States
- Setting: Distant town
- Control: Public
- Classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Official website: https://www.wcu.edu/
- IPEDS Unit ID: 200004
- Last verified by CollegesRef: 2026-11-03

## Admissions

Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025 data.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Applicants | 12,308 |
| Admitted | 9,775 |
| Acceptance rate | 81.8% |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (25th–75th percentile) | 560–660 |
| SAT Math (25th–75th percentile) | 520–610 |
| ACT Composite (25th–75th percentile) | 19–25 |

## Cost

Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025 data.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| In-state tuition | $4,685 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $8,685 |
| Average net price (per year, after grants) | $13,025 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 39.2% |

## Outcomes

Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025 data.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Graduation rate (within six years) | 61.1% |
| First-year retention rate | 79.1% |
| Median earnings (10 years after entry) | $53,764 |

## Enrollment

Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025 data.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Total students | 10,024 |

## Frequently 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.

## Related pages

- [Western Carolina University Tuition 2026](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-carolina-university-3224/financial)
- [Western Carolina University Rankings by Major](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-carolina-university-3224/rankings)
- [Western Carolina University Earnings by Major](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-carolina-university-3224/outcomes)
- [Colleges similar to Western Carolina University](https://www.collegesref.com/collegesref/western-carolina-university-3224)
- [Compare Western Carolina University with other colleges](https://www.collegesref.com/compare?slugs=western-carolina-university-3224)
- [College Scorecard entry](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?200004)
- [College Navigator entry](https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=200004)

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-carolina-university-3224. Figures are federal reports (IPEDS and the U.S. College Scorecard); cite the data year shown with each table. Blank measures were not reported and are left out rather than estimated.