Western Carolina University, NC
Public
4-Year • Medium • Primarily Residential
Master's College and University
Selective • High Transfer-In
Main Campus
Western Carolina University Rankings
Affordability73
Selectivity33
Retention48
Graduation26
Earnings25
Diversity21
1 ← Poor
Great → 100
Academics
Academics at Western Carolina University
100%
Bachelor’s
-
Associate’s
-
Certificate
Grad
Highest Degree
Share of 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 Studies<1%
Natural Resources and Conservation2%
Parks, Recreation, Fitness Studies3%
Philosophy and Religious Studies<1%
Physical Sciences2%
Psychology5%
Public Administration and Social Service5%
Social Sciences4%
Visual and Performing Arts5%
Admissions
Getting into Western Carolina University
40%
Admission Rate
555
Median SAT Math
565
Median SAT Reading
23
Median ACT Composite
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 Attending Western Carolina University
$4K
In-State Tuition
$8K
Out-of-State Tuition
$21K
Average Total Cost
$16K
Average Net Cost
Average Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–$30K | $11K | $13K | $14K |
| $30K–$48K | $13K | $13K | $15K |
| $48K–$75K | $17K | $14K | $17K |
| $75K–$110K | $20K | $17K | $19K |
| >$110K | $21K | $20K | $21K |
Debt
Typical Debt after Western Carolina University
59%
Receive Federal Loans
$16K
Median Federal Debt
59%
Repayment Rate
$233
Median Payment
Received Financial Aid
| Family Income | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–$30K | 32% | 58% | 57% |
| $30K–$48K | 18% | 17% | 16% |
| $48K–$75K | 17% | 12% | 12% |
| $75K–$110K | 17% | 9% | 9% |
| >$110K | 16% | 10% | 11% |
Student Debt
| Category | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| The median debt for family income between $0–$30K | $15K | $11K | $11K |
| The median debt for family income between $30K–$75K | $16K | $12K | $12K |
| The median debt for students with family income >$75K | $16K | $11K | $12K |
| The median debt for Pell students | $17K | $11K | $12K |
| The median debt for no-Pell students | $14K | $10K | $11K |
| Cumulative loan debt at the 90th percentile | $31K | $25K | $25K |
| Cumulative loan debt at the 75th percentile | $26K | $18K | $18K |
| Cumulative loan debt at the 25th percentile | $7K | $5K | $6K |
| Cumulative loan debt at the 10th percentile | $4K | $3K | $3K |
Repayment Rates
| Period | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year after entering repayment | 53% | 35% | 43% |
| 3-years after entering repayment | 59% | 40% | 46% |
| 5-years after entering repayment | 64% | 47% | 50% |
| 7-years after entering repayment | 71% | 54% | 55% |
Completion
Completion Rates at Western Carolina University
80%
Retention Rate
27%
Transfer Rate
11%
Withdrawal Rate
60%
Graduation Rate
Graduation Rates by Time Taken
| Time Taken | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within 4 Years | 40% | 29% | 38% |
| Within 6 Years | 60% | 43% | 55% |
| Within 8 Years | 58% | 45% | 56% |
Graduation Rates by Ethnicity
| Ethnicity and Nativity | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian | 58% | 40% | 53% |
| Black | 67% | 32% | 39% |
| Caucasian | 62% | 43% | 52% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 58% | 41% | 47% |
| Native American or Alaskan Native | 43% | 28% | 40% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 100% | 41% | 43% |
| Non-US citizens/residents | 44% | 46% | 50% |
| Two or more races | 51% | 36% | 44% |
| Other race | 88% | 38% | 44% |
Outcomes
Outcomes after Western Carolina University
94%
Employment Rate
$32K
Median Salary
$20K
25 Pctl Salary
$42K
75 Pctl Salary
Employment over Time
| Period | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employed 6 years after enrollment | 94% | 86% | 85% |
| Employed 7 years after enrollment | 91% | 84% | 84% |
| Employed 8 years after enrollment | 92% | 84% | 84% |
| Employed 9 years after enrollment | 90% | 83% | 83% |
| Employed 10 years after enrollment | 88% | 83% | 83% |
Distribution of Earnings after Graduation
| Percentile | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile of earnings | $9K | $6K | $7K |
| 25th percentile of earnings | $20K | $15K | $17K |
| 50th percentile of earnings | $32K | $26K | $29K |
| 75th percentile of earnings | $42K | $38K | $43K |
| 90th percentile of earnings | $51K | $50K | $57K |
Median Earnings over Time
| Period | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings 6 years after enrollment | $32K | $26K | $29K |
| Earnings 8 years after enrollment | $35K | $28K | $32K |
| Earnings 10 years after enrollment | $38K | $31K | $35K |
Students
Students at Western Carolina University
9,835
Undergraduates
66%
Full-time Undergrads
22
Avg Entry Age
1,612
Graduate Students
Enrollment by Gender
| Gender | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female degree-seeking undergraduates | 54% | 64% | 64% |
| Male degree-seeking undergraduates | 46% | 36% | 35% |
Enrollment by Race and Nativity
| Race and Nativity | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian | 1% | 2% | 4% |
| Black | 5% | 33% | 18% |
| Caucasian | 79% | 47% | 49% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7% | 7% | 18% |
| Native American or Alaskan Native | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | <1% | <1% | <1% |
| Non-US citizens/residents | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Two or more races | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Other race | 1% | 4% | 4% |
Enrollment by Family Income
| Family Income | School | NC | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–$30K | 26% | 47% | 43% |
| $30K–$48K | 18% | 20% | 18% |
| $48K–$75K | 18% | 15% | 16% |
| $75K–$110K | 19% | 13% | 14% |
| >$110K | 19% | 14% | 15% |
Location Map
Nearby Colleges
Colleges near Western Carolina University, NC
Southwestern Community College
3 miles, NW
Haywood Community College
21 miles, NE
Brevard College
26 miles, E
Carolina College of Hair Design
38 miles, NE