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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW Samford University University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU| Birmingham Southern College | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Birmingham Southern College | WCU | ||
| Location | Birmingham, AL | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 731 | 11,628 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #742 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bsc.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Birmingham Southern College | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $21,500 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,500 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,300 | $11,764 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,170 | $12,252 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,223 | $5,442 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Birmingham Southern College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,987 | 18,183 | ||
| Admitted | 2,071 | 15,758 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 51.9% | 86.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 7.1% | 13.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.72 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1340 | 1050/1260 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Birmingham Southern College | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Birmingham Southern College | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 62% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,000 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,850 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $227 |
Diversity |
Birmingham Southern College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Birmingham Southern College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 38% | 19% | ||
Campus |
Birmingham Southern 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 Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 731 students)
Birmingham Southern College vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Birmingham Southern College or WCU?
- Birmingham Southern College is 2,050% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($21,500.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 330% higher at Birmingham Southern College than Western Carolina University ($21,500.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Birmingham Southern College ($12,252 vs. $24,170)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 21.6% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($11,764 vs. $14,300)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Birmingham Southern College students is 161.4% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($14,223 vs. $5,442)
Birmingham Southern College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Birmingham Southern College or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Birmingham Southern College .
- The average SAT score at Birmingham Southern College (1167) is 135 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming Birmingham Southern College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Birmingham Southern College (51.9%)
Birmingham Southern College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Birmingham Southern 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 Birmingham Southern College.
- The graduation rate at Birmingham Southern College is higher than Western Carolina University (62% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $11,900 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,840 lower median federal student loan debt than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $26,850)
- WCU graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($227 vs. $277)
- More Birmingham Southern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/