Berry College vs. WCU

Should I go to Berry College or Western Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Berry College 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

ECU ASU Mercer UNC Charlotte Georgia Samford University UNCW Ogelthorpe University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State
Berry College vs. Western Carolina University comparison
Berry College Western Carolina University College 3 College 4
Berry College Western Carolina University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Berry College WCU
Location Mount Berry, GA Cullowhee, NC
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 2,360 11,635
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #381 #763
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website berry.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Berry College WCU
Tuition (In State) $39,150 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $39,150 $5,000
Room & Board $13,890 $11,173
Avg Net Price $25,359 $13,022
Avg Grant Aid $29,670 $4,526
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Berry College WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,643 17,917
Admitted 3,742 15,201
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 84.8%
Enrolled % 16.9% 12.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.44
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 19/26
SAT Range 1110/1290 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 Jul 15, 2025 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

 Berry College WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Agriculture (10%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 Berry College WCU
Graduation Rate 57% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,700 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $237 $227

Diversity

 Berry College WCU
% Men 36% 41%
% Women 64% 59%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 79%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 Berry College WCU
% In-State 77% 80%
% Out-of-State 23% 18%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than Berry College based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 2,360 students)

Berry College vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berry College or WCU?

  • Berry College is 3,815% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($39,150.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 683% higher at Berry College than Western Carolina University ($39,150.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Berry College ($13,022 vs. $25,359)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 24.3% lower than costs at Berry College ($11,173 vs. $13,890)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Berry College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Berry College students is 555.5% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($29,670 vs. $4,526)

Berry College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Berry College (1179) is 147 points higher than at WCU (1032)
  • Incoming Berry College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at WCU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Berry College students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at WCU (3.44)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Berry College (66.3%)

Berry College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Berry College 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 Berry College.

  • The graduation rate at Berry College is higher than Western Carolina University (57% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Berry College earn on average $2,600 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $990 lower median federal student loan debt than Berry College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $23,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Berry College graduates. ($227 vs. $237)
  • More Berry College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 58%)

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