Western Carolina University Campus Life
Campus life
The campus as a place: setting, size, calendar and who studies here.
Campus at a glance
Distant town
In a smaller urban cluster away from a large metro area.
- City
- Suburb
- Town (this campus)
- Rural
10,024 students
Larger than 90% of colleges
National median 1,603 students
Undergraduates with Pell Grants
- Receive a Pell Grant
- 39.2%
- TypePublic
- ClassDoctoral/professional university
- CalendarSemester
- AthleticsNCAA Division I
Nearby college towns
- Sylva3 mi
- Clyde20.9 mi
- Brevard26.2 mi
- Asheville39.9 mi
Verified data from IPEDS and the College Scorecard. Distances are straight-line miles.
Race/ethnicity
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Among undergraduates at Western Carolina University, the largest reported group is White (75.3%), followed by Hispanic (8.8%).
| Group | Undergraduates | Full-time instructional staff |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Asian | 1.3% | 4.1% |
| Black | 6.7% | 2.3% |
| Hispanic | 8.8% | 3.2% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 0% |
| White | 75.3% | 84.8% |
| Two or more races | 4.4% | 1.1% |
| Non-resident | 1.7% | 3.2% |
| Unknown | 0.9% | 0.9% |
Campus culture not rated yet
Is this campus your type?
Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where Western Carolina University sits for you.
Take the fit quizVerified facts
Did you know? Western Carolina University
- 81.8%Western Carolina University admitted 9,775 of 12,308 applicants.Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025
- 17.4%of admitted students chose to enroll (the yield rate): 1,701 of 9,775.Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025
- $53,764median annual earnings of former students who received federal aid.Source: U.S. College Scorecard, 2025
Free tools
Plan for Western Carolina University
- College cost estimatorFind your four-year cost in 30 secondsSticker price against what aided students pay, a four-year total and graduate earnings, for up to three colleges.Open tool
- Admission chances snapshotSee if a college is a reach, target or likelySee where your SAT or ACT score sits against a college's middle 50% of admitted students.Open tool
- Application deadline timelineNever miss FAFSA, early or regular deadlinesCountdown to the typical FAFSA, early, regular and Decision Day dates, with a checklist that saves your progress.Open tool
Colleges like Western Carolina University
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC
East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC
North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, NC
Next step
Premium Fit Report$29 once
Your quiz result turned into up to 10 best-fit colleges, with reach, target and likely groups, costs, earnings and an action plan.
Start with the quiz See a sample report
