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Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University is based in the town of Cullowhee, NC — a public campus in a small-town setting.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$8,571

family income
under $30k

$10,277

$30–48k

$13,085

$48–75k

$15,140

$75–110k

$17,958

over $110k

Average net price

$13,3152023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Western Carolina University rose from $7,978 (2008) to $13,315 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$7,978
2009	$8,912
2010	$9,888
2011	$11,481
2012	$12,380
2013	$13,395
2014	$13,516
2015	$14,433
2016	$15,157
2017	$15,607
2018	$13,722
2019	$13,924
2020	$13,640
2021	$13,801
2022	$12,579
2023	$13,315

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$19,9922024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Western Carolina University rose from $13,977 (2009) to $19,992 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$13,977
2010	$14,468
2011	$16,056
2012	$16,684
2013	$17,805
2014	$18,549
2015	$18,923
2016	$19,921
2017	$20,819
2018	$21,341
2019	$18,289
2020	$18,462
2021	$18,634
2022	$18,731
2023	$19,057
2024	$19,992

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$2,260	$9,530
2001	$2,243	$10,165
2002	$2,610	$11,525
2003	$2,806	$12,167
2004	$3,273	$12,709
2005	$3,410	$12,846
2006	$3,731	$13,314
2007	$4,061	$13,644
2008	$4,196	$13,779
2013	$6,265	$15,862
2014	$6,305	$16,698
2015	$6,623	$17,016
2016	$6,737	$17,130
2017	$6,897	$17,290
2018	$3,926	$7,926
2019	$4,277	$8,277
2020	$4,285	$8,285
2021	$4,367	$8,367
2022	$4,453	$8,453
2023	$4,532	$8,532

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Western Carolina University reports published tuition by residency: $4,630 in-state versus $8,630 out-of-state — a $4,000 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Western Carolina University reports 10,024 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

60.3% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Western Carolina University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

60.3%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Western Carolina University rose from 47.7% (entered 1991) to 60.3% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	47.7%
1992 cohort	49.2%
1993 cohort	47.2%
1994 cohort	44.7%
1995 cohort	47.1%
1996 cohort	45.7%
1997 cohort	48.9%
1998 cohort	46%
1999 cohort	47.3%
2000 cohort	46.7%
2001 cohort	47.5%
2002 cohort	49.8%
2003 cohort	49.1%
2004 cohort	51.2%
2005 cohort	50.4%
2006 cohort	47.9%
2007 cohort	51.1%
2008 cohort	58.3%
2009 cohort	57.5%
2010 cohort	56.5%
2011 cohort	59%
2012 cohort	61.6%
2013 cohort	62.5%
2014 cohort	63.6%
2015 cohort	61.4%
2016 cohort	60.6%
2017 cohort	59.1%
2018 cohort	60.3%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$11,000	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$11,227	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$11,625	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$11,445	$2,707
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$11,625	$2,963
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$11,625	$3,519
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$11,000	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$11,000	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$11,824	$2,665
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$13,368	$2,665
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$13,508	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$13,688	$4,750
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$15,126	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$16,180	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$16,652	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,217	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$20,229	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$21,614	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$21,941	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$22,500	$8,324
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$22,328	$8,573
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$22,466	$8,598
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$22,492	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$21,868	$8,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$43,085

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$45,617

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$49,458

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Western Carolina University admitted 16,154 of 19,742 applicants in Fall 2024. The 81.8% rate describes that application pool.

81.8%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $4,532 in-state tuition · 2023–24 10,024 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1080–12701600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Western Carolina University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Western Carolina University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 560–660 and Math was 520–610 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1080–1270 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	560	610	660
SAT Math	520	570	610
ACT Composite	19	23	25

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Western Carolina University received 19,742 applications and admitted 16,154 (81.8%), with 2,052 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

81.8%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	86.9%
Fall 2002	73%
Fall 2003	71.8%
Fall 2004	73.6%
Fall 2005	76.2%
Fall 2006	74.6%
Fall 2007	76.7%
Fall 2008	67.9%
Fall 2009	51.1%
Fall 2010	44.1%
Fall 2011	38.8%
Fall 2012	38.7%
Fall 2013	37.7%
Fall 2014	43.1%
Fall 2015	40.3%
Fall 2016	40.7%
Fall 2017	38.8%
Fall 2018	39.7%
Fall 2019	68.7%
Fall 2020	48.5%
Fall 2021	79.4%
Fall 2022	84.8%
Fall 2023	86.7%
Fall 2024	81.8%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1080–1270Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	900	1090
Fall 2002	910	1100
Fall 2003	910	1110
Fall 2004	920	1110
Fall 2005	930	1120
Fall 2006	930	1110
Fall 2007	910	1110
Fall 2008	920	1110
Fall 2009	940	1120
Fall 2010	940	1110
Fall 2011	950	1130
Fall 2012	945	1130
Fall 2013	940	1130
Fall 2014	950	1130
Fall 2015	940	1130
Fall 2016	910	1120
Fall 2017	1020	1200
Fall 2018	1030	1210
Fall 2019	1020	1200
Fall 2020	1020	1220
Fall 2021	1060	1230
Fall 2022	1020	1240
Fall 2023	1050	1260
Fall 2024	1080	1270

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

19–25Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2004	18	22
Fall 2005	18	22
Fall 2006	18	22
Fall 2007	18	22
Fall 2008	18	23
Fall 2009	19	23
Fall 2010	18	23
Fall 2011	19	24
Fall 2012	19	24
Fall 2013	20	24
Fall 2014	20	24
Fall 2015	20	24
Fall 2016	20	25
Fall 2017	19	24
Fall 2018	20	25
Fall 2019	20	25
Fall 2020	20	25
Fall 2021	19	25
Fall 2022	19	26
Fall 2023	20	26
Fall 2024	19	25

IPEDS Fall 2004–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

10,024Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Western Carolina University rose from 5,581 (Fall 2002) to 10,024 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	5,581
Fall 2003	5,986
Fall 2004	6,650
Fall 2005	6,889
Fall 2006	7,051
Fall 2007	7,006
Fall 2008	6,896
Fall 2009	7,205
Fall 2010	7,251
Fall 2011	7,465
Fall 2012	7,796
Fall 2013	8,238
Fall 2014	8,603
Fall 2015	8,601
Fall 2016	9,002
Fall 2017	9,234
Fall 2018	9,835
Fall 2019	10,292
Fall 2020	10,387
Fall 2021	9,980
Fall 2022	9,809
Fall 2023	9,867
Fall 2024	10,024

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

79%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Western Carolina University rose from 69% (Fall 2002) to 79% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	69%
Fall 2003 cohort	74%
Fall 2004 cohort	71%
Fall 2005 cohort	71%
Fall 2006 cohort	66%
Fall 2007 cohort	71%
Fall 2008 cohort	76%
Fall 2009 cohort	74%
Fall 2010 cohort	72%
Fall 2011 cohort	74%
Fall 2012 cohort	79%
Fall 2013 cohort	78%
Fall 2014 cohort	80%
Fall 2015 cohort	80%
Fall 2016 cohort	79%
Fall 2017 cohort	80%
Fall 2018 cohort	78%
Fall 2019 cohort	81%
Fall 2020 cohort	75%
Fall 2021 cohort	71%
Fall 2022 cohort	76%
Fall 2023 cohort	79%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Western Carolina University

Faculty pay at Western Carolina University averages $108,828 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Western Carolina University as a primarily residential campus of 10,024 undergraduates — and 79.1% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Western Carolina University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1080–1270 — their midpoint is near the NC four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Western Carolina University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Western Carolina University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Western Carolina University81.8%

North Carolina median74.9%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Western Carolina University$4,630

North Carolina median$19,500

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Western Carolina University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Western Carolina University$49,458

North Carolina median$45,873

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Western Carolina University, North Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	Western Carolina University	North Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	81.8%	74.9%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$4,630	$19,500	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$49,458	$45,873	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Western Carolina University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Western Carolina University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 44 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	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

These 44 fields listed for Western Carolina University measure earnings after completion. The $49,458 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 11 additional Western Carolina University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Western Carolina University report?

Western Carolina University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1080–1270 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Western Carolina University's acceptance rate?

81.8% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 16,154 admitted from 19,742 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 earnings data does Western Carolina University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $49,458. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in North Carolina

Winston-Salem State University — 78.3% admitted
Warren Wilson College — 71.3% admitted
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary — 74.6% admitted
Salem College — 76.7% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.