Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · SoutheastQuad's selectivityAccessible

Known forTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

Fall 2026 applicants: Test scores recommended (fall 2024: Test-optional)Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25

Source:Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicantsAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Western Carolina admits about 8 in 10 applicants (82%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 41% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

82%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

19,742

Admitted

16,154

Yield

13%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.43

SAT middle 50%

1080–1270

10001600

ACT middle 50%

19–25

1836

Applications +28% since fall 2014 · admit rate 43% → 82%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 10,024 undergrads, where 35% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

10K

undergrads · larger than 89% of colleges

Diversity index

0.42

Pell Grant

35%

about the median

First generation

33%

about the median

Distant townNCAA D-I FCS · Southern ConferenceStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.36 → 0.42 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (12% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 74% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,410 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $16,328 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $8K less than the national median. The 81% who received grants paid $13,767 on average; the other 19% paid the full sticker price of $20,319 in-state / $24,319 out-of-state.

23%

$16.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $8K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $20,319 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Little need-based aid above $110K; aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid: 21% · avg $3K; of first-years without need got merit aid

Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 23% of full price

Federal loans

44%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −19% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $49,458 ten years after enrolling, more than at 37% of colleges; 65% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.3 years of that salary.

65%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$49.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$21.9K

≈ $232/month for 10 years

Retention

79%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 58% → 60% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 17% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 28% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 43% to 82%.

Cost
Falling
−19% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+28%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 43% → 82%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.36 → 0.42

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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86% admit · SAT 1170 · 14K undergrads

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Tennessee Technological University

79% admit · SAT 1160 · 8.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

89% admit · SAT 1175 · 6.2K undergrads

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Vermont State University

82% admit · 3.6K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25
Western Carolina University · Fall 2024; Fall 2026 applicants; 2023–24; 2024–25; Fall 2025 entrants; Fall 2025 cycle; 2025–26; Class of 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-11
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
State laws on public colleges
State legislatures (statutes read and summarized by hand) · In effect since June 24, 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04
18
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
20
Western Carolina University (2026)
Western Carolina University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 200004 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything