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Western Carolina University
Most applicants get into Western Carolina University — 81.8% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Western Carolina University anchors the college town of Cullowhee, NC, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $86,853 four years out. Faculty pay averages $108,828 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 10,024 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 79.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1050 and 1260 — below the NC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Western Carolina University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Western Carolina University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1050–1260 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Western Carolina University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 540 | 590 | 650 |
| SAT Math | 510 | 565 | 610 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 23 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Western Carolina University received 18,183 applications and admitted 15,758 (86.7%), with 2,103 enrolling.
How Western Carolina University compares
| Western Carolina University | North Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 81.8% | 75.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $4,630 | $19,500 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $49,458 | $45,873 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Western Carolina University student earns $49,458 — 8% above the North Carolina median of $45,873 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Western Carolina University prices by residency: $4,630 in-state versus $8,630 out-of-state — a $4,000 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Western Carolina University enrolls 10,024 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Western Carolina University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
60.3% graduate within six years. Roughly 40% don't — ask a Western Carolina University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Western Carolina University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $86,853 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $83,954 |
| Engineering, General | $82,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $79,533 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $79,441 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $78,801 |
| Public Administration | $70,331 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $65,010 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $62,128 |
| Public Health | $61,698 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $61,346 |
| Mathematics | $59,885 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $58,467 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $58,076 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,713 |
| Marketing | $56,568 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,903 |
| Security Science and Technology | $54,246 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $53,622 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $52,183 |
| Political Science and Government | $52,077 |
| Chemistry | $51,213 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $50,761 |
| Biology, General | $50,180 |
| Social Work | $50,025 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $49,898 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $49,834 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $49,798 |
| Psychology, General | $48,350 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $48,232 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $47,105 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $47,031 |
| Sociology | $46,195 |
| Anthropology | $45,809 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $45,079 |
| Music | $44,014 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $43,954 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $43,322 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $43,029 |
| History | $42,698 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $41,786 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $40,831 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $40,744 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $34,516 |
Median earnings for these 44 Western Carolina University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $49,458 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 11 additional Western Carolina University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Western Carolina University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1050–1260 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 81.8% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Western Carolina University's acceptance rate?
86.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 15,758 admitted from 18,183 applicants.
How much does Western Carolina University cost?
In-state tuition is $4,630; out-of-state students pay $8,630. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Western Carolina University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $49,458 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in North Carolina
- Winston-Salem State University — 78.3% admitted
- Warren Wilson College — 71.3% admitted
- Shaw University — 80.2% admitted
- Salem College — 76.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.