Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University is a public, state school located in the rural setting of Cullowhee, NC

Founded in 1889, Western Carolina University currently enrolls around 12,243 students a year, including 10,517 undergrads. The institution runs on a semester academic calendar.

Western Carolina University's endowment was valued at $90,606,569 in 2021.

2021 Admissions Facts About Western Carolina University

Acceptance rate: 48%

Average GPA: 3.46

Early Decision or Early Action: No/Yes

2022 Regular Decision Deadline: March 1

2022 Regular Decision Notification Date:

Western Carolina University Acceptance Rate

Admission to Western Carolina University is moderately difficult. Around 48 percent of all applicants are admitted to Western Carolina University each year.

Admitted students have an average high school GPA of 3.46 out of 4.0.

In 2021, 0 applicants were waitlisted and 0 students were ultimating offered a spot off the waitlist.

Is Western Carolina University a good school?

Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience.

Retention and graduation rates

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Western Carolina University, around 81 percent return for their sophomore year. Out of the 1,745 students who started at Western Carolina University as first-time freshman, 754 graduate within four years.

Western Carolina University's six-year graduation for undergrads is 64 percent. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61 percent for public schools, and 67 percent for private, non-profit schools.

Job outcomes and student debt

Job placement rates after graduation, average starting salaries, and the debt students graduate with can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. In 2020, students graduated with an average of $35,280 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

Based on this information, how does Western Carolina University sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So the real question to ask yourself: is Western Carolina University a good school for YOU?

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