About Western Carolina University (WCU)
Type
Public
4 Years
Student Population
11,639
Website
www.wcu.eduAccreditation
SACSCOC
Religious Affiliation
Not applicable
On Campus Housing
Yes
#N/A
Rankings
The ranking of a particular university helps a student decide where to apply, which is always a tough decision. It is said that the more information that a prospective student has about a university, the better it is. The ranking of a university helps a student overcome the confusion of which university/college is right for them and also other prospects. Before taking admission, a student can assess the university chosen by them on various grounds like research excellence, the performance of its students after graduation, and their experience, among others. Notably, for the rankings, the two publications, US News and Forbes, are trusted everywhere. However, it should be noted that Western Carolina University does not feature in the list of top colleges, according to the latest ranking of these two publications.
Admissions
Application Deadline
1st Feb
Acceptance Rate
40%
SAT Range
1030 - 1210
ACT Range
20 - 25
Application Fee
$65
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Accept Common App
None
The students can make the most out of the admission process as the admission at the university is easy. Western Carolina University has 4 admission thresholds. To kickstart the admission process at WCU, the candidates have to fill an application form and submit a fee of $65. If the SAT score of a student lies in the range of 1020-1200, it would improve her chances. A candidate, in order to take admission to Western Carolina University, must score 22 in her ACTs. But, in certain cases, those having ACT scores less than 20 are also given admission. The candidates can apply for the courses online. However, in case they need information or want to feel the vibes, they visit the school's office at Highway 107, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723-9646. They can also call them at (828) 227-7100.
Annual Cost to Attend
Net Price
$15,021
Average Annual Cost
$1,000
Books And Supplies
$1,055
Other Fees
$2,926
Room And Board
$10,103
Budget For Other Expenses
$2,621
Total One Year Cost
$17,705
Tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure are the next two things that a student should keep in mind before applying to WCU. The total one-year cost on a full-time basis would be somewhere around $20,962. If it sounds unaffordable to the applicant, there are numerous financial aid options available that they can explore.
Academics
Highest Degree Offered
Doctor's degree
Student:Faculty Ratio
17:1
Full-Time Retention Rate
80%
Part-Time Retention Rate
33%
Academic Calendar
Semester
Research Funding per Student
$254
Faculty Overview
Male Professors
Female Professors
Non-traditional Learning
Evening Degree Programs
Teacher Certification
Distance Education
Study Abroad
Majors
Registered Nursing, Administration,...
219 Graduates
Teacher Education and Professional...
159 Graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
155 Graduates
Psychology, General
135 Graduates
Business Administration, Management...
127 Graduates
Marketing
117 Graduates
Biology, General
88 Graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervent...
62 Graduates
Communication and Media Studies
55 Graduates
Social Work
53 Graduates
Teacher Education and Professional...
51 Graduates
Chemistry
49 Graduates
Hospitality Administration/Manageme...
48 Graduates
Engineering Technology, General
46 Graduates
Health and Physical Education/Fitne...
46 Graduates
Finance and Financial Management Se...
42 Graduates
Sociology
40 Graduates
English Language and Literature, Ge...
40 Graduates
Accounting and Related Services
39 Graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
39 Graduates
Construction Engineering Technologi...
34 Graduates
History
34 Graduates
Management Information Systems and...
34 Graduates
Communication Disorders Sciences an...
32 Graduates
Public Administration
29 Graduates
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Prof...
29 Graduates
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facil...
29 Graduates
Anthropology
28 Graduates
Electrical, Electronics and Communi...
28 Graduates
Romance Languages, Literatures, and...
26 Graduates
Political Science and Government
25 Graduates
Public Health
22 Graduates
Entrepreneurial and Small Business...
22 Graduates
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Se...
21 Graduates
Music
21 Graduates
Natural Resources Management and Po...
21 Graduates
Computer Science
18 Graduates
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
18 Graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General...
18 Graduates
Electrical Engineering Technologies...
17 Graduates
Radio, Television, and Digital Comm...
16 Graduates
International/Global Studies
15 Graduates
Special Education and Teaching
14 Graduates
Mathematics
14 Graduates
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosc...
13 Graduates
Natural Resources Conservation and...
11 Graduates
Philosophy
9 Graduates
Engineering, General
8 Graduates
Design and Applied Arts
6 Graduates
Germanic Languages, Literatures, an...
2 Graduates
Student Body
Undergraduate Students
10,027
Socio-Economic Diversity
38%
Part-time
14%
Students Gender
LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS
ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER
Race/Ethnicity
Geographic Density
Geographic Density
High
Unknown Location
Out Of State
In State
Foreign
Economic Diversity
36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Median Household Income
$56,231 per year
Campus Life
Housing
The students can reside on campus and N/A of Freshman Live On-Campus.
On Campus Housing Available
Yes
Freshmen Required to Live on Campus
No
Freshmen Live on Campus
N/A
Undergrads in College Housing
N/A
Averege Housing Cost
$4,956/year
Campus Food
The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $4,706/year.
Meal Plan Available
Yes
Average Meal Plan Available
$4,706/year
Athletes
Division Sports Nickname
Catamounts/Lady Cats
School Colors
purple and gold
Varsity Athletics Association
NCAA
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
Southern Conference
Total Male Athletes
284
Total Female Athletes
203
Intramural Sports
27
Sports Club
32
Sports Team (Men)
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Golf
Track and Field
Sports Team (Women)
Basketball
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Campus Safety
24-Hour Security Patrol
Yes
Campus Emergency Phones
Yes
24-Hour Escort Safety rides
Yes
Mobile Campus Emergency Alert
Yes
The university additionally offers an on-campus housing facility for students who wish to dwell nearby. A candidate will be needed to pay a normal expense of $10,725 per year for living on campus. The average meal plan at WCU costs around $4,706 a year. Notably, students at the varsity get to choose from various dining and meal plan options as well. The number of female and male students at the university are 45% and 55%, respectively.
After Graduation
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$31,900/year
Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation
$37,700/year
Typical Monthly Loan Payment
$142 - 281
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Gift Aid
Average Aid Per Year
$6,380
Students Receiving Federal Grants
Average Aid Per Year
$4,774
Students Receiving State Aid
Average Aid Per Year
$3,028
Students Receiving Institutional Grants
Average Aid Per Year
$2,059
Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30K
$10,358
$30K - $48K
$8,507
$48K - $75K
$4,634
$75K - $110K
$1,285
> $110K
$642
Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants
$1,481,308
Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants
$2,203,626
In case the students at Western Carolina University face any financial issues concerning the fees and cost of living, and find the same to be high, they can seek help from the financial aid department of the varsity. It focuses on settling the issues that students face, and candidates can be assisted with scholarships, grants, and student loans. The average federal grant that comes from the university is around $4,667, whereas the financial aid is $2,134. The students at the university are provided with state aid and institutional aid. The state aid stands at $1,537, while the institutional aid is $2,134. The need-based scholarships awarded to students admitted to Western Carolina University amount to $1,481,308 per annum. Meanwhile, the total non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded in a year total $2,203,626.