AUM vs. WCU

Should I go to Auburn University at Montgomery or Western Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AUM or WCU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Auburn University at Montgomery vs. Western Carolina University comparison
Auburn University at Montgomery Western Carolina University College 3 College 4
Auburn University at Montgomery Western Carolina University
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Overview

 AUM WCU
Location Montgomery, AL Cullowhee, NC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 5,109 11,635
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #903 #763
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aum.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AUM WCU
Tuition (In State) $8,232 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $18,480 $5,000
Room & Board $7,368 $11,173
Avg Net Price $13,163 $13,022
Avg Grant Aid $6,935 $4,526
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

 AUM WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,290 17,917
Admitted 2,112 15,201
Acceptance Rate 92.2% 84.8%
Enrolled % 19.3% 12.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 19/26
SAT Range 1010/1190 1020/1240
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

 AUM WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 AUM WCU
Graduation Rate 33% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,192 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $229 $227

Diversity

 AUM WCU
% Men 37% 41%
% Women 63% 59%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 54% 79%
% Black 35% 6%
% Hispanic 1% 6%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 AUM WCU
% In-State 100% 80%
% Out-of-State 0% 18%

Campus

 AUM WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than AUM based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 5,109 students)

AUM vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AUM or WCU?

  • Auburn University at Montgomery is 723.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($8,232.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 269.6% higher at AUM than Western Carolina University ($18,480.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than AUM ($13,022 vs. $13,163)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Auburn University at Montgomery are 51.6% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($7,368 vs. $11,173)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Auburn University at Montgomery as Western Carolina University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Auburn University at Montgomery students is 53.2% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($6,935 vs. $4,526)

AUM vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AUM or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or AUM .

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 42 points higher than at AUM (990)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at AUM (21)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at AUM (3.4)
  • AUM has a higher acceptance rate (92.2%) than WCU (84.8%)

AUM vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AUM 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 AUM.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Auburn University at Montgomery (50% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $1,200 more per year than AUM graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $37,900)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than AUM graduates. ($22,010 vs. $22,192)
  • WCU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than AUM graduates. ($227 vs. $229)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AUM students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/