Students
Who's on campus
A medium campus of 10,024 undergrads, where 35% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.
Race & ethnicity
Diversity index0.42
Economic access
Campus size
22% of undergraduates take every course online, and another 26% take some
Where first-years come from
2,052 first-time students
22% came from other states and 0.5% from abroad; 75% are from North Carolina. Fewer from other states than at 54% of colleges.
- In-state (North Carolina)75%
- Other states22%
- Abroad0.5%
- Not reported2.0%
Top home states
- North Carolina(home state)75% 1,548
- South Carolina8.1% 167
- Georgia4.9% 100
- Florida2.5% 51
- Virginia1.0% 20
From 34 states (counting DC).
Students starting college for the first time, by where they lived when admitted. Colleges report it every other fall.
Transfers in and out
Transferring in, fall 2024
1,003
new transfer students, 33% of new undergraduates. A larger transfer share than at 63% of colleges.
638 full-time, 365 part-time.
Going on to another college
25%
of students who entered in fall 2016 had left without a degree and were enrolled at another college 8 years later (about 783 students).
Federal data doesn't count students leaving in a given year; this follows one entering class.
Who they are
18% of undergrads study part-time.
58% women
Another gender: 0 reported. The college may not record other genders.
Degree-seeking undergraduates. Men and women add up to 100% because federal data has colleges count each student of another or unknown gender as a man or a woman.
Campus life
Housing, sports, faith, Greek life, and LGBTQ+ life
Housing for 4,760 students.
Housing
Beds
4,760
About 47 for every 100 undergrads (median college: 59). Can include graduate housing.
First-years
Not required to live on campus
Many colleges still expect it, with exceptions such as for local students.
Meal plans
Offered
Athletics & programs
Athletics
NCAA Division I FCS · Southern Conference
Of the four sports the federal survey asks about, it plays football, basketball, baseball, cross country/track.
How the Southern Conference comparesROTC
Not listed
Study abroad
Offered
Undergraduate research
A formal program
Calendar
Semesters
Student services
- Academic and career counseling
- Help finding a job while enrolled
- Job placement after graduating
- On-campus child care for students' children
- A program for students with intellectual disabilities
- 8% of undergrads registered with disability services· Disability services office
Religious life
Faith communities · 2
- Christian 1
- Nonreligious and secular 1
Nonreligious and secular
Secular Student Alliance at Western Carolina University
Greek life
On the national organizations' own chapter lists.
- Fraternity and sorority housing
Councils and chapters
1listedPanhellenic sororities (NPC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
Gamma Mu
4listedInterfraternity (NIC and IFC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
Xi-Sigma
Beta-Zeta (Western Carolina)
Gamma Epsilon
LGBTQ+ life
Policies
- Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression
- Chosen name and pronouns on campus records
Listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse, read October 2026; not confirmed by the college.
State law for public colleges
North Carolina public universities and community colleges may not keep offices named diversity, equity, and inclusion or promoting different treatment by federally protected class; the law doesn't name sexual orientation or gender identity.
N.C. Gen. Stat. §§116-415 to 116-417 (North Carolina SB 558 (2026)), in effect since June 24, 2026.
Undergraduates of another gender, fall 2024
0 reported. The college may not record other genders.
Gender unknown: 19
Colleges record gender so differently that these counts can't be compared between colleges.
Sources:College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;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 (distance education), 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;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;State laws on public colleges, In effect since June 24, 2026About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)