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UNCW ECU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill JMU Tennessee Elon UofSC Clemson UNCG| Appalachian State University | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ASU | WCU | ||
| Location | Boone, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,436 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #594 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | appstate.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ASU | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,242 | $1,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,246 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,582 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,084 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,443 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 47% | 99% |
Admission |
ASU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,255 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 18,489 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.1% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.2% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.96 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1270 | 1020/1240 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
ASU | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ASU | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 65% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $227 |
Diversity |
ASU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 85% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
ASU | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 18% | ||
Campus |
ASU | WCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Appalachian State University is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (20,436 students vs. 11,635 students)
ASU vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ASU or WCU?
- Appalachian State University is 324.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($4,242.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 304.9% higher at ASU than Western Carolina University ($20,246.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than ASU ($13,022 vs. $13,084)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 3.7% lower than costs at Appalachian State University ($11,173 vs. $11,582)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Appalachian State University (99% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Appalachian State University students is 64.4% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($7,443 vs. $4,526)
ASU vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ASU or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or ASU .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 125 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming ASU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than ASU (83.1%)
ASU vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ASU or WCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WCU and ASU.
- The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Western Carolina University (65% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Appalachian State University earn on average $2,500 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($41,600 vs. $39,100)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $1,510 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,010)
- ASU graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($211 vs. $227)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/