Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$65 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 79%, women at 84%.
Yield
13% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Uses a wait list; numbers not published
Where you stand
How Western Carolina reads a record
GPA, the high school record, class rank, and a college-prep program are required. Scores are optional. 5% of first-years sent an SAT and 19% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Recommends 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of science, and 2 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Required
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Considered
- Essay
- Considered
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
72% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 82% of first-year applicants
2,766 applied · 1,984 admitted · 1,003 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
At least 12 credits completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by April 1
- Spring entry: decisions by November 1
- Summer entry: decisions by April 15
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Recommended
- Essay or personal statement
- Not required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Recommended
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by February 1 for fall 2025.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis starting September 1.
- $150 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 semester.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 4 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 3 / 3) | 3 | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 2 |
| Social studies | 2 | 2 |
| History | 1 | 1 |
| Academic electives | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 20 | 24 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Started requiring class rank in fall 2024.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2024 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.43
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
This college publishes an average but not a breakdown.
15% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 39% in the top quarter, of the 78% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Western Carolina University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1175 on the SAT, right around the national median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
43% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1200–1399.
44% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 18–23.
12% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
51% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 500–599.
11% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
11% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 6% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 19% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;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 2025 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)