Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Ball State's yield is 8 pts higher than Western Carolina's
Yield rate - 2
Western Carolina admits 82% vs. 86% at Ball State
Acceptance rate - 3
Western Carolina's SAT midpoint is 5 points higher than Ball State's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- Ball StateAccessible
- Western CarolinaAccessible
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1000–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 15–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- Ball StateTest-optional
- Western CarolinaTest scores recommended
How they read a record
Ball State
GPA, the high school record, and a college-prep program are required.
Western Carolina
, GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important.
What they look at
| Factor | Ball State | Western Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Required | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Not considered | Very important |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Considered | Important |
| Essay | Considered | Important |
| Legacy status | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Important |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent release;Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicantsAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why