Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
School Background
2022 Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,980
Graduate Enrollment: 1,732
Doctoral/Professional Universities
Highest degree awarded:
Graduate
Religious Affiliation:
None
Campus Details
Town: Distant (in urban cluster more than 10 miles and up to 35 miles from an urbanized area)
Four-year, large, primarily residential
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full-time, selective, higher transfer-in
Applicant and Admittance Traits
2022 Admission Rate: 79.42%
Male/Female: 43% / 57% (2017)
First generation college students: 32.9% (2017)
Percentage of students who are married when enrolled: 9.0% (2017)
Percentage of students who are veterans: 0.2% (2017)
Test scores for admission: Considered but not required
Appliants applying to 2+ schools: 49.6% (2017)
Appliants applying to 3+ schools: 29.7% (2017)
Appliants applying to 4+ schools: 19.1% (2017)
Appliants applying to 5+ schools: 12.1% (2017)
Ethnicity Information
White: 77.5%
Black: 5.9%
Hispanic: 7.8%
Asian: 1.3%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 1.0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 3.4%
Non-resident alien: 1.6%
Unknown race: 1.6%
Black: 5.9%
Hispanic: 7.8%
Asian: 1.3%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 1.0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 3.4%
Non-resident alien: 1.6%
Unknown race: 1.6%
Costs & Fees
2022 Average Tuition & Fees (Room/Board/Books): $18,634
In-State tuition: $4,367Out-of-State tuition: $8,367
Estimated books and supplies: $621 (2022)
Estimated on-campus room & board: $11,097 (2022)
Estimated on-campus other fees: $2,933 (2022)
Estimated off-campus room & board: $11,428 (2022)
Estimated off-campus other fees: $2,933 (2022)
Average Family Income: $67,443 (2017)
Median Family Income: $46,182 (2017)
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Percentage of students receiving Pell Grant: 34.5%Percentage of students with Federal Loans: 48.6%
Median federal loan debt at graduation: $21,868 (2021)
Median federal loan payment: $232 (2021)
| Household Income | Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0-$30k | $8,951 |
| $30k-48k | $11,422 |
| $48k-75k | $14,153 |
| $75k-110k | $16,890 |
| $110k+ | $18,128 |
Graduate Outcomes & Job Placements
4-year graduation rate: 43%6-year graduation rate: 61%
1 year post-graduation workforce participation: 96.5% (2020)
Loans
Median federal debt for graduates: $21,868 (2021)Median federal debt for non-graduates: $8,750 (2021)
Median federal debt for first-generation graduates: $15,864 (2021)
Median federal debt for Pell grant recipient graduates: $16,500 (2021)
Ability to Repay Loans
| Graduates, % of Loans in Repayment (Non-delinquent/default) |
Percentage |
|---|---|
| @1 Year | 62.0% (2015) |
| @3 year | 68.7% (2017) |
| @5 year | 72.7% (2017) |
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid (Non-delinquent/default) - Pell Grant Recipients: 48.3% (2015)
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid - 1st Generation Attendees: 50.1% (2015)
Earnings Power
Median earnings, 1 year post graduation: $37,398 (2020)Median earnings, 4 years post graduation: $44,429 (2020)
Popular Majors
| Type of Degree | Major | 2022 Graduates | Median Federal Debt | Median Monthly Payment | 1yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) | 4yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | Engineering Technology, General. | 62 | $25,250 | $268 | $59,115 ($4,926) | $67,301 ($5,608) |
| Master's Degree | Chemistry. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | 11 | $22,537 ($1,878) | $34,105 ($2,842) | ||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 17 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Psychology, General. | 110 | $23,250 | $231 | $23,802 ($1,984) | $32,439 ($2,703) |
| Master's Degree | Psychology, General. | 11 | $34,675 ($2,890) | |||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | 6 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Criminal Justice and Corrections. | 125 | $21,461 | $227 | $37,862 ($3,155) | $46,331 ($3,861) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Public Administration. | 37 | $18,375 | $183 | $50,204 ($4,184) | $58,649 ($4,887) |
| Master's Degree | Public Administration. | 14 | $296 | $46,442 ($3,870) | $57,198 ($4,767) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | 35 | $24,000 | $246 | $30,595 ($2,550) | $44,773 ($3,731) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Social Work. | 69 | $25,857 | $263 | $30,452 ($2,538) | $39,978 ($3,332) |
| Master's Degree | Social Work. | 43 | $294 | $44,449 ($3,704) | $50,735 ($4,228) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Anthropology. | 42 | $22,595 | $220 | $22,768 ($1,897) | $38,932 ($3,244) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Political Science and Government. | 23 | $25,000 | $239 | $29,915 ($2,493) | $42,254 ($3,521) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Sociology. | 35 | $23,250 | $246 | $20,085 ($1,674) | $40,864 ($3,405) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Design and Applied Arts. | 19 | $29,911 | $317 | $35,901 ($2,992) | $43,753 ($3,646) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | 31 | $26,000 | $262 | $20,699 ($1,725) | $28,148 ($2,346) |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 200 | $23,495 | $231 | $38,582 ($3,215) | $44,964 ($3,747) |
| Master's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 60 | $320 | $71,384 ($5,949) | $74,022 ($6,169) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 40 | $20,000 | $206 | $45,218 ($3,768) | $51,846 ($4,321) |
| Master's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 22 | $255 | $55,319 ($4,610) | $62,848 ($5,237) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. | 20 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Finance and Financial Management Services. | 75 | $23,625 | $234 | $39,439 ($3,287) | $51,753 ($4,313) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Hospitality Administration/Management. | 37 | $26,000 | $272 | $29,657 ($2,471) | $42,036 ($3,503) |
| Master's Degree | Human Resources Management and Services. | 48 | $260 | $56,917 ($4,743) | $71,945 ($5,995) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Management Information Systems and Services. | 26 | $23,000 | $236 | $42,697 ($3,558) | $60,008 ($5,001) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Marketing. | 136 | $23,508 | $243 | $34,047 ($2,837) | $51,579 ($4,298) |
| Master's Degree | Marketing. | 11 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | History. | 22 | $24,004 | $252 | $24,768 ($2,064) | $42,612 ($3,551) |
| Master's Degree | History. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Natural Resources Management and Policy. | 16 | $21,962 | $196 | $39,058 ($3,255) | $39,771 ($3,314) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Communication and Media Studies. | 41 | $18,500 | $198 | $25,552 ($2,129) | $44,979 ($3,748) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | 12 | $25,000 | $265 | $32,097 ($2,675) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Computer Science. | 25 | $27,000 | $286 | $33,110 ($2,759) | |
| Master's Degree | Education, General. | 25 | $252 | $43,240 ($3,603) | $46,544 ($3,879) | |
| Master's Degree | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 43 | $187 | $60,551 ($5,046) | $59,679 ($4,973) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 6 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Special Education and Teaching. | 17 | $20,485 | $217 | $37,383 ($3,115) | $40,704 ($3,392) |
| Master's Degree | Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | 41 | $466 | $39,138 ($3,262) | $45,757 ($3,813) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 150 | $24,714 | $253 | $36,517 ($3,043) | $39,561 ($3,297) |
| Master's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 24 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 40 | $25,500 | $264 | $37,608 ($3,134) | $41,076 ($3,423) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Engineering, General. | 28 | $25,550 | $271 | $61,083 ($5,090) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 19 | $31,000 | $329 | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | 12 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 33 | $26,000 | $267 | $19,271 ($1,606) | $30,964 ($2,580) |
| Master's Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Music. | 27 | $27,000 | $276 | $23,500 ($1,958) | $41,120 ($3,427) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | 50 | $21,287 | $221 | $24,382 ($2,032) | $41,863 ($3,489) |
| Master's Degree | Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | 28 | $466 | $50,289 ($4,191) | $53,202 ($4,434) | |
| Master's Degree | Health and Medical Administrative Services. | 32 | $162 | $46,316 ($3,860) | $53,245 ($4,437) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | 70 | $23,835 | $266 | $49,221 ($4,102) | $47,130 ($3,928) |
| First Professional Degree | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | 30 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. | 23 | $24,905 | $254 | $17,720 ($1,477) | $39,640 ($3,303) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 192 | $23,163 | $186 | $61,775 ($5,148) | $65,830 ($5,486) |
| Master's Degree | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 78 | $419 | $103,636 ($8,636) | $110,705 ($9,225) | |
| First Professional Degree | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 6 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | 16 | $23,154 | $238 | $59,317 ($4,943) | |
| Master's Degree | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Construction Engineering Technologies. | 23 | $27,000 | $276 | $60,973 ($5,081) | $76,573 ($6,381) |
| Master's Degree | Construction Engineering Technologies. | 11 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | 23 | $23,250 | $246 | $32,155 ($2,680) | $40,330 ($3,361) |
| Bachelor's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 32 | $25,000 | $265 | $27,445 ($2,287) | $35,970 ($2,998) |
| Master's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 13 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | 17 | $26,000 | $274 | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Public Health. | 21 | $26,343 | $286 | $38,334 ($3,195) | $44,528 ($3,711) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Biology, General. | 103 | $26,037 | $267 | $26,385 ($2,199) | $43,110 ($3,593) |
| Master's Degree | Biology, General. | 10 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mathematics. | 22 | $27,000 | $276 | $37,809 ($3,151) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | International/Global Studies. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management. | 37 | $22,252 | $227 | $23,684 ($1,974) | $33,350 ($2,779) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | 28 | $25,000 | $258 | $33,978 ($2,832) | $36,053 ($3,004) |
| Master's Degree | Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | 20 | $44,261 ($3,688) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Philosophy. | 8 | $36,840 ($3,070) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Chemistry. | 41 | $20,824 | $208 | $33,056 ($2,755) |
Campus Resources
Average faculty salary: $70,830Full time faculty: 74%
Undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio: 15.0
School's endowment start of year: $90,606,569 (2022)
School's endowment end of year: $124,318,482 (2022)