Western Carolina University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Cullowhee, North Carolina
Net price / year
$13,315
after grants & scholarships
lower than 51% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
82%
Graduation rate
60%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 75% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$54,667
4 years after graduating
lower than 67% of public 4-year colleges
Western Carolina University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Western Carolina University?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $4,630 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $8,630 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Western Carolina University?
- The average cost of attendance is $19,992 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Western Carolina University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $13,315 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Western Carolina University?
- About 82% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- What SAT and ACT scores are typical at Western Carolina University?
- The middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores had an SAT total of about 1080–1270 and an ACT composite of 19–25 (fall 2024). Test policy reported: Considered if submitted, but not required.
- What is the graduation rate at Western Carolina University?
- 60% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Western Carolina University earn?
- The median graduate earns $54,667 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.6 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $8,816 a year on average, versus $17,992 for families earning over $110,000.
- 60% of students graduate on time or within 150% of normal time, higher than 75% of public 4-year colleges.
- The school admits 82% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
- One year into repayment, 17% of federal-loan borrowers had paid in full or were making progress on their balance (4,551 borrowers).
Tuition and cost of attendance at Western Carolina University
Average net price (in-state)
$13,315 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Western Carolina University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$53,260
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $8,816
- $30–48k $10,012
- $48–75k $12,605
- $75–110k $17,060
- $110k+ $17,992
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $19,992
- Tuition & fees$4,630
- Books & supplies$800
- Room & board$12,354
- Other expenses$3,381
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $4,630
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $8,630
Western Carolina University acceptance rate and SAT/ACT scores
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Western Carolina University
Graduation rate
60%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
77%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$232
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
2.6 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.4×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 5.1%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 60%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $35,205 · median $49,458 · 75th percentile $67,362
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 4,551 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 7%
- Making progress 10%
- Not making progress 14%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 52%
- Deferment 14%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
4,551 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Western Carolina University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 32 | $86,853 | 1 yr$28,8924 yrs$86,8535 yrs$93,802 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $83,954 | 1 yr$63,4014 yrs$83,9545 yrs$85,272 | U.S. median $93,843 U.S. middle half $77.4K–$111.7K · Below the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $82,500 | 1 yr$62,2444 yrs$82,500 | U.S. median $89,359 U.S. middle half $73.4K–$108.8K · Below the U.S. median | $25,550 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 218 | $79,533 | 1 yr$68,7744 yrs$79,5335 yrs$72,955 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Below the U.S. median | $17,500 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $79,441 | 1 yr$67,0034 yrs$79,441 | U.S. median $84,599 U.S. middle half $63.6K–$107.4K · Below the U.S. median | $22,457 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 80 | $78,801 | 1 yr$59,8134 yrs$78,8015 yrs$66,644 | U.S. median $80,526 U.S. middle half $62.4K–$99.2K · Below the U.S. median | $25,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 41 | $70,331 | 1 yr$56,4454 yrs$70,3315 yrs$61,307 | U.S. median $65,093 U.S. middle half $47.2K–$86.7K · Above the U.S. median | $17,234 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 77 | $65,010 | 1 yr$53,3984 yrs$65,0105 yrs$57,020 | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Below the U.S. median | $25,090 |
| Management Information Systems and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 39 | $62,128 | 1 yr$47,8674 yrs$62,1285 yrs$77,089 | U.S. median $83,290 U.S. middle half $58.8K–$111.6K · Below the U.S. median | $22,300 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $61,698 | 4 yrs$61,6985 yrs$59,893 | U.S. median $58,808 U.S. middle half $42K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
Show all 44 programs
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 51 | $61,346 | 1 yr$40,6074 yrs$61,3465 yrs$61,038 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Below the U.S. median | $19,428 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $59,885 | 1 yr$34,8024 yrs$59,8855 yrs$43,145 | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Below the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 26 Small sample | $58,467 | 1 yr$32,8424 yrs$58,4675 yrs$51,717 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $29,911 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 86 | $58,076 | 1 yr$40,5754 yrs$58,0765 yrs$64,679 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Below the U.S. median | $22,060 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 230 | $57,713 | 1 yr$39,5134 yrs$57,7135 yrs$50,856 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Below the U.S. median | $21,836 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 200 | $56,568 | 1 yr$33,1974 yrs$56,5685 yrs$57,435 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Below the U.S. median | $22,922 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 200 | $55,903 | 1 yr$38,6824 yrs$55,9035 yrs$53,478 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $21,430 |
| Security Science and Technology Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $54,246 | — | U.S. median $57,805 U.S. middle half $41.5K–$76.5K · Below the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $53,622 | 1 yr$17,9704 yrs$53,6225 yrs$43,962 | U.S. median $55,753 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$68.4K · Below the U.S. median | $23,952 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 56 | $52,183 | 1 yr$24,5214 yrs$52,1835 yrs$45,599 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $20,870 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $52,077 | 4 yrs$52,0775 yrs$49,601 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $51,213 | 1 yr$26,5134 yrs$51,2135 yrs$58,765 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Below the U.S. median | $19,618 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 47 | $50,761 | 1 yr$32,4284 yrs$50,7615 yrs$40,898 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $24,302 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 93 | $50,180 | 1 yr$28,3814 yrs$50,1805 yrs$55,306 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Below the U.S. median | $25,193 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 109 | $50,025 | 1 yr$36,7274 yrs$50,0255 yrs$46,183 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Below the U.S. median | $24,818 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 40 | $49,898 | 1 yr$37,6084 yrs$49,8985 yrs$44,961 | U.S. median $55,792 U.S. middle half $40K–$73.8K · Below the U.S. median | $23,187 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $49,834 | 1 yr$36,8464 yrs$49,8345 yrs$42,455 | U.S. median $56,185 U.S. middle half $41.3K–$74.7K · Below the U.S. median | $18,500 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 55 | $49,798 | 1 yr$29,3954 yrs$49,7985 yrs$46,877 | U.S. median $56,726 U.S. middle half $41K–$73.8K · Below the U.S. median | $25,657 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 138 | $48,350 | 1 yr$27,5054 yrs$48,3505 yrs$40,666 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Below the U.S. median | $21,813 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $48,232 | 1 yr$41,4444 yrs$48,2325 yrs$47,600 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Below the U.S. median | $24,927 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 147 | $47,105 | 1 yr$40,5944 yrs$47,1055 yrs$44,949 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Below the U.S. median | $23,900 |
| Special Education and Teaching Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $47,031 | 1 yr$41,3764 yrs$47,0315 yrs$43,364 | U.S. median $50,499 U.S. middle half $41.4K–$60.1K · Below the U.S. median | $20,485 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 41 | $46,195 | 1 yr$23,3744 yrs$46,1955 yrs$48,855 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Below the U.S. median | $23,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 49 | $45,809 | 1 yr$28,2624 yrs$45,8095 yrs$37,633 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Below the U.S. median | $20,732 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $45,079 | 1 yr$29,9274 yrs$45,0795 yrs$35,809 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 37 | $44,014 | 1 yr$26,1354 yrs$44,0145 yrs$48,930 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Above the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $43,954 | 1 yr$19,1254 yrs$43,9545 yrs$25,455 | U.S. median $50,497 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$70.1K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 59 | $43,322 | 1 yr$28,9964 yrs$43,3225 yrs$48,606 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Below the U.S. median | $18,697 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 44 | $43,029 | 1 yr$24,2534 yrs$43,0295 yrs$35,357 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | $25,159 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $42,698 | 1 yr$34,9094 yrs$42,6985 yrs$50,346 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $23,814 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 46 | $41,786 | 1 yr$30,4854 yrs$41,7865 yrs$41,615 | U.S. median $50,468 U.S. middle half $37.5K–$64.3K · Below the U.S. median | $21,415 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $40,831 | 4 yrs$40,8315 yrs$44,645 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $40,744 | 1 yr$36,1794 yrs$40,744 | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | $23,250 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 37 | $34,516 | 1 yr$21,8244 yrs$34,5165 yrs$35,165 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Below the U.S. median | $24,722 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 75.3%
- Black or African American 6.7%
- Hispanic or Latino 8.8%
- Asian 1.3%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.9%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
- Two or more races 4.4%
- U.S. nonresident 1.7%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 0.9%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 42.5%
- Women 57.5%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
20%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 10,024
- Part-time students
- 18%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 35%
- Receive federal loans
- 44%
- Students per faculty member
- 16 : 1
- Setting
- Town
Similar colleges
Schools of a similar type, price, size and outcomes.
-
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC
Net price $10,846Earnings $56,996
-
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Net price $10,965Earnings $51,594
-
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC
Net price $15,359Earnings $50,812
-
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
Net price $16,836Earnings $54,010
-
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
Net price $14,265Earnings $57,377
-
East Texas A&M University
Commerce, TX
Net price $11,841Earnings $57,494
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in North Carolina
In North Carolina
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Western Carolina University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Western Carolina University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $4,630 for in-state students and $8,630 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Western Carolina University?
The average cost of attendance at Western Carolina University is $19,992 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $13,315 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Western Carolina University get?
35% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 44% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $8,816 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $17,992 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Western Carolina University?
Western Carolina University admitted about 82% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Western Carolina University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% had an SAT total of about 1080–1270 and an ACT composite of 19–25 (fall 2024). That is a guide, not a cutoff. Reported test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Western Carolina University?
60% of first-time, full-time students at Western Carolina University finish within 150% of normal time. 77% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Western Carolina University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $54,667 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $40,015.
Is Western Carolina University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Western Carolina University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.6 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $21,868, about 0.4 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 60% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things