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Everything we have for Ball State and Western Carolina, grouped like the topic pages. Differences only hides the rows where they match or only one reports.
Every row, including ones where these colleges match.
| Metric | Ball State | Western Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Getting in | ||
| Admissions data | Fall 2024 | Fall 2024 |
| Acceptance rate | 86% | 82% |
| Acceptance rate, men / women | 84% / 86% | 79% / 84% |
| Acceptance rate, in-state / other states / international | Not published | Not published |
| Yield, in-state / other states / international | Not published | Not published |
| Applicants | 21,093 | 19,742 |
| Admitted | 18,034 | 16,154 |
| Enrolled | 3,686 | 2,052 |
| Yield | 20% | 13% |
| SAT middle 50% | 1080–1260 | 1080–1270 |
| ACT middle 50% | 20–24 | 19–25 |
| Sent an SAT | – | 6% |
| Sent an ACT | – | 19% |
| Scored 1400+ on the SAT | – | 4%Fall 2024 |
| Scored 30+ on the ACT | – | 7%Fall 2024 |
| Admission: High school GPA | Required | Very important |
| Admission: High school record | Required | Required |
| Admission: Class rank | Not considered | Very important |
| Admission: College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Admission: Recommendations | Considered | Important |
| Admission: Essay | Considered | Important |
| Admission: Legacy status | Not considered | Not considered |
| Admission: Work experience | Considered | Important |
| Admission: Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Admission: English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Admission: Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Average high school GPA | – | 3.43Fall 2024 |
| First-years in the top tenth of their class | – | 15% (of the 78% with a rank)Fall 2024 |
| Early decision | – | Not offered2024–25 |
| Early action | – | – |
| Wait list | – | Uses one; numbers not publishedFall 2024 |
| Admission: Rigor of high school record | – | Very importantFall 2024 |
| Admission: Test scores | – | Very importantFall 2024 |
| Admission: Interview | – | ConsideredFall 2024 |
| Admission: Extracurricular activities | – | ImportantFall 2024 |
| Admission: Talent or ability | – | ImportantFall 2024 |
| Admission: Character and personal qualities | – | ImportantFall 2024 |
| Admission: First generation | – | ConsideredFall 2024 |
| Admission: Geographic residence | – | ConsideredFall 2024 |
| Admission: State residency | – | ConsideredFall 2024 |
| Admission: Religious affiliation | – | Not consideredFall 2024 |
| Admission: Volunteer work | – | ConsideredFall 2024 |
| Admission: Demonstrated interest | – | ImportantFall 2024 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | Test scores recommendedFall 2026 applicants |
| Application fee | $60 | $65 |
| Deadlines & deposit | – | Apply by February 1 · $150 housing depositFall 2025 cycle |
| Gap year allowed | – | Yes, up to 1 semesterFall 2025 cycle |
| Credit for AP exams | Yes | Yes |
| Transfer acceptance rate | – | 72%Fall 2024 |
| Students & campus | ||
| Setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
| Carnegie class | Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Large | Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Large/Medium |
| Research activity | R2: high research | Research college or university |
| Student access & earnings | Opportunity Colleges and Universities: Higher Access, Higher Earnings | Lower Access, Medium Earnings |
| HBCU, tribal, land-grant | None | None |
| Minority-serving, single-sex | None | None |
| Religious affiliation | None | None |
| Athletics | Division I FBS | Division I FCS |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference | Southern Conference |
| ROTC | Army | Not listed |
| Study abroad | Offered | Offered |
| Undergraduate research program | Yes | Yes |
| Calendar | Semesters | Semesters |
| Undergrads | 13,988 | 10,024 |
| Beds in college housing | 7,046 | 4,760 |
| First-years must live on campus | No | No |
| Men in a fraternity | – | – |
| Women in a sorority | – | – |
| Fraternity/sorority housing | – | Offered2024–25 |
| Greek councils present | Panhellenic sororities (NPC), Interfraternity (NIC and IFC)October 2026 | Panhellenic sororities (NPC), Interfraternity (NIC and IFC)October 2026 |
| Pell Grant | 35% | 35% |
| First-gen | 28% | 33% |
| Men / women | 39% / 61% | 42% / 58% |
| Part-time students | 7% | 18% |
| Students 25 and older | 6% | 20% |
| First-years from in state | 91% | 75% |
| First-years from other states | 8% | 22% |
| First-years from abroad | 1% | 0% |
| New transfer students this fall | 589 | 1,003 |
| Transfers, share of new undergraduates | 14% | 33% |
| Diversity index | 0.46 | 0.42 |
| Academics | ||
| Students per faculty member | 14 to 1 | 16 to 1 |
| Classes under 20 students | – | 34%Fall 2024 |
| Full-time faculty share | 77% | 74% |
| Average faculty salary | $75,288 | $81,749 |
| Bachelor's degrees awarded | 2,664 | 2,391 |
| Most popular majors | Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 7% · Psychology, General 7% · Business/Commerce, General 6% | Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 12% · Business Administration and Management, General 9% · Psychology, General 6% |
| Instruction spending per student | $10,844 (public, GASB accounting) | $9,410 (public, GASB accounting) |
| Endowment per student | $14,553 (public, GASB accounting) | $12,994 (public, GASB accounting) |
| Tuition share of core revenue | 32% | 16% |
| Cost & aid | ||
| Average cost, all students (est.) | $18,194 | $16,328 |
| Aid generosity (grants ÷ full price) | 36% | 23% |
| Net price, students with grants | $13,599 | $13,767 |
| Sticker price, in-state | $26,734 | $20,319 |
| Sticker price, out-of-state | $44,742 | $24,319 |
| Tuition guarantee | No | No |
| Promise program | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition & fees, in-state | $10,758 | $4,532 |
| Tuition & fees, out-of-state | $28,766 | $8,532 |
| First-years paying out-of-state rates | 9% | 22% |
| First-years with grants | 77% | 81% |
| Average grant | $13,218 | $5,993 |
| Aid from the college | 58% | 78% |
| Need-based aid up to | Little need-based aid above $110K | Little need-based aid above $110K |
| Merit for students without need | – | 21% got merit aid, averaging $3K |
| Published promise | – | – |
| Aid forms | – | FAFSA · College's own formFall 2025 entrants |
| Aid priority date or deadline | – | March 1 (priority)Fall 2025 entrants |
| Need met, first-years | – | 64%2023–24 |
| Average aid package, first-years | – | $10,2112023–24 |
| College grant dollars given as merit | – | 50%2023–24 |
| Aid for international students | – | Offered2023–24 |
| Outcomes | ||
| Median earnings (10 yrs) | $51,833 | $49,458 |
| Graduation rate | 65% | 65% |
| Graduated in 6 years, Pell Grant recipients | 53% | 55% |
| Graduated in 6 years, neither Pell nor subsidized loan | 70% | 63% |
| Pell graduation gap | 17 pts lower | 8 pts lower |
| Finished within 4 years: Pell recipients | Not published | Not published |
| Finished within 4 years: neither Pell nor subsidized loan | Not published | Not published |
| Finished within 4 years: all first-time full-time | Not published | Not published |
| Finished within 5 years: Pell recipients | Not published | Not published |
| Finished within 5 years: neither Pell nor subsidized loan | Not published | Not published |
| Finished within 5 years: all first-time full-time | Not published | Not published |
| Graduated in 6 years, White students | 65% | 62% |
| Graduated in 6 years, Asian students | 65% | Under 30 students |
| Graduated in 6 years, Hispanic/Latino students | 53% | 58% |
| Graduated in 6 years, Black students | 51% | 48% |
| Graduated in 6 years, students of two or more races | 54% | 52% |
| Graduated in 6 years, international students | Under 30 students | Under 30 students |
| Retention rate | 78% | 79% |
| Credential within 4 years, all students | 51% | 50% |
| Credential within 8 years, all students | 64% | 64% |
| Enrolled at another college, 8 years on | 24% | 25% |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $21,868 |
| Undergrads with a federal loan | 43% | 44% |
| Median debt, Pell Grant recipients | $16,750 | $16,500 |
| Website | bsu.edu | wcu.edu |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;National directories of campus chapters and groups, October 2026;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Outcome Measures survey, Students entering fall 2016;College Scorecard, 2023–24;Common Data Set, most recent release;Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024;Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, 2024–25;Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicants;Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2025 cycle;Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2025 entrants;Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, 2023–24About 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