What Western Carolina costs
Western Carolina University charges $4,630 a year in published tuition and fees for North Carolina residents, about $2,315 a semester, and $8,630 a year for students from other states, about $4,315 a semester. With housing, food, books and other costs, the total cost of attendance for in-state students is $19,992 a year. Students who received grants or scholarships paid $13,801 a year on average after that aid (the average net price). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
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Getting into Western Carolina
For fall 2024, Western Carolina University received 19,742 applications and admitted 16,154 students, and 2,052 enrolled as first-years. The middle half of enrolled students who sent SAT scores scored between 1080 and 1270.
What Western Carolina students study
The most common bachelor's degrees at Western Carolina University (class of 2024, first majors only):
| Major | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing / Registered Nurse | 266 |
| Business Administration and Management | 255 |
| Psychology | 150 |
| Criminal Justice / Safety Studies | 139 |
| Health Services / Allied Health / Health Sciences | 121 |
| Public Administration | 105 |
| Emergency Medical Technology / Technician (EMT Paramedic) | 91 |
| Kindergarten / Preschool Education and Teaching | 82 |
Source: IPEDS Completions, bachelor's degrees awarded in 2023–24.
Colleges near Western Carolina
Other colleges within about an hour, by straight-line distance:
- University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina: about 41 miles away
- Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina: about 48 miles away
- Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina: about 50 miles away
- Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee: about 53 miles away
Colleges like Western Carolina
Smaller public universities with the same campus setting (small town or rural), closest in size and nearest in region:
- Troy University, Troy, Alabama: 9,805 undergraduates
- University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida: 9,330 undergraduates
- Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee: 8,698 undergraduates
- Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky: 12,318 undergraduates
- University of West Georgia, Carrollton, Georgia: 7,520 undergraduates
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Lists that include Western Carolina
- Colleges in North Carolina: 33 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities: 242 Compared
- Division I Colleges: 353 Compared
- Small-Town and Rural Colleges: 176 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities in the Southeast: 59 Compared
- Division I Colleges in the Southeast: 115 Compared
- Small-Town and Rural Colleges in the Southeast: 49 Compared
FAQ
What is Western Carolina University's acceptance rate? 81.8% for fall 2024: 16,154 of 19,742 applicants were admitted.
How much is tuition at Western Carolina University? $4,630 a year for in-state students and $8,630 for out-of-state students, in published tuition and fees before aid. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
How many students go to Western Carolina University? About 10,000 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What SAT scores do Western Carolina University students have? The middle half of enrolled students scored 1080–1270.
What is the campus setting at Western Carolina University? The National Center for Education Statistics classifies its location as a small town or rural area.
Sources
- College Navigator: Western Carolina University (IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education)
- College Scorecard: Western Carolina University
- Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons
