Western Carolina University is a public, state school in a rural setting in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Western Carolina University was founded in 1889 and the school presently has around 11,877 students per year, which includes 10,145 undergrad students. Western Carolina University offers on-campus housing for students. Most students live in off campus housing.
📆 Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2023 is March 1.
There are many ways for students to get involved at Western Carolina University!
Interested in music or performing? At Western Carolina University you can join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.
Are you interested in journalism and communications? Western Carolina University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.
Interested in joining a fraternity or sorority? Western Carolina University has both fraternities and sororities.
Planning to play sports? Western Carolina University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Western Carolina University on the Student Life page.
2022 Western Carolina University Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Academic Calendar | Semester |
Overall Acceptance Rate | 74% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | ED not offered |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | EA Offered but % not available |
Average GPA | 3.4 |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 12% |
In-State Tuition | $4,366 |
Out-of-State | $11,157 |
Percent of Need Met | 65% |
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $9,291 |
Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Some factors that can help you determine what a good school for you might be include admissions criteria, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more.
Let's take a closer look at these areas to get a clearer view of what Western Carolina University offers and if the college seems like the right college for you.
It is moderately difficult to get into Western Carolina University. The university admitted 74% of all applicants in 2022. Last year, 13,146 students applied to Western Carolina University and 9,772 were admitted.
Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. Retention measures how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
Approximately 75% of first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Western Carolina Universityare still enrolled the next year. Around 61% of students who started at Western Carolina University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.
Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school.
Check with Western Carolina University directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.
An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.
Western Carolina University's endowment was valued at $90.6 million in 2022, compared to a national average of $905 million.
Tuition is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.
Western Carolina University meets 65% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $9,291 a year.
In 2020, students graduated with an average of $29,213 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.
The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022
Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA asap. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Western Carolina University.
Based on this information, does Western Carolina University seem like a good fit? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for another! So ask yourself: Is Western Carolina University a good school for you?
If Western Carolina University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
Choose one of the options below to learn more about Western Carolina University:
Western Carolina University Community Forums
Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting into some of the most selective schools in the U.S.
Western Carolina University is located in the rural setting of Cullowhee, North Carolina.
If you would like to see Western Carolina University for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 40 to Cullowhee, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Asheville Regional.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Western Carolina University and Cullowhee are like without leaving home.
See a full list of colleges in North Carolina and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Western Carolina University is Mar 1.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Western Carolina University is Jun 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
25 and Above
19 to 25
19 and Less
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
Tuition & Fees
$19,982
In State$23,982
Out-of-StateWondering what life at Western Carolina University is like? There are approximately 11,877 students enrolled at Western Carolina University, including 10,145 undergraduate students and 1,732 graduate students. 81% percent of students attend school full-time, 87% percent are from NC and 13% percent of students are from other states.
81%
Full Time19%
Part Time87%
In State13%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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