Western Carolina University
- BOverall Grade
- 4 Year
- Cullowhee, NC
- 1,346 reviews
- AcademicsB+
- ValueB+
- DiversityB+
- CampusB
- AthleticsB+
- Party SceneB-
- ProfessorsB+
- LocationD+
- DormsB+
- Campus FoodB
- Student LifeB-
- SafetyB-
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FCS
Athletic Conference
Southern Conference
Address
1 University Way
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Website
Western Carolina University Rankings
Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
39%
SAT Range
1020-1200
ACT Range
19-24
Application Fee
$65
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Early Decision/Early Action
Yes
Application Website
Test Prep
SAT and ACT Prep Options
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- Guaranteed score improvement with smart feedback and progress tracking
Will You Get In?
Test Scores and High School GPA for Western Carolina University See Other Colleges
Cost
Net Price
$14,456/ year
National
$15,523Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Student Loan Options from Lenders
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- Rates starting at 4.23% APR + 1% Cash Back
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Academics
Professors
B+
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
17:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
- 80%
- of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.84 responses
- 65%
- of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.94 responses
- 68%
- of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.94 responses
Majors
Most Popular Majors
Students
Full-Time Enrollment
8,040Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
8%
Pell Grant
42%
Varsity Athletes
4%
Campus Life
Freshmen Live On-Campus
—
Poll
- 71%
- of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.109 responses
Poll
- 58%
- of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.128 responses
After College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$37,700/ year
National
$33,028Graduation Rate
59%
National
49%Employed 2 Years After Graduation
94%
National
83%- 85%
- of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.60 responses
Western Carolina University Reviews
1,346 reviews
All Categories
I originally applied to Western Carolina because of NC Promise, which grants in-state students $500 tuition per semester, but ended up falling in love with the school. Most classes have fairly good student to teacher ratios, making it easier to reach your professor for any questions or concerns. Western Carolina has some of the most genuine and caring educators that I have been privileged to know. You have to enjoy the outdoors if you're thinking about attending because 90% of the activities outside campus have to do with the outdoors. Dorms and near by apartments can be a bit expensive but are relatively cheap compared to other colleges in North Carolina. Campus parking is a bit difficult as well because it's to find parking spots during the weekdays. Overall, Western Carolina is a great school with a stress relieving scenery that never gets old!
Western has been the greatest decision in my life. The tuition for me being an out of state student is phenomenal! It was cheaper than anything in SC that I got accepted to! It has the atmosphere of a small college and everyone there is very friendly. Their athletic training program is top notch and I highly recommend that program, especially the professors! The climate for me was perfect because growing up in the Charleston, SC metro area, I wanted to go somewhere cooler and Western did just that. Even though it is in the middle of nowhere there is still a lot to do within an hour- two-hour radius of campus. All in all, this is an amazing school and I absolutely love it!
Western Carolina University is an amazing school! The people at Western and around the community are great. There is always fun events going on around campus. The food has always been good to me. Plenty of housing options on and off campus. The campus rec center (gym) is super nice! I spent many hours in there. My favorite part about Western is the fact that it's in the mountains! I love outdoor activities, such as hiking, kayaking, fishing, and more. I have made some long life friends here, and a lot of wonderful memories! The reason I gave Western a 4-star rating is because I wish they had an exercise/kinesiology undergrad program I could've taken. Other than that, my overall experience at Western was great! I'm so excited to be able to attend graduate school at Western this coming fall!