Hanover College vs. WCU

Should I go to Hanover College or Western Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Hanover 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.
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Hanover College vs. Western Carolina University comparison
Hanover College Western Carolina University College 3 College 4
Hanover College Western Carolina University
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Overview

 Hanover College WCU
Location Hanover, IN Cullowhee, NC
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 1,157 11,628
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #358 #742
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hanover.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Hanover College WCU
Tuition (In State) $42,003 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $42,003 $5,000
Room & Board $13,558 $11,764
Avg Net Price $22,929 $12,252
Avg Grant Aid $33,304 $5,442
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Hanover College WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,702 18,183
Admitted 2,269 15,758
Acceptance Rate 84% 86.7%
Enrolled % 11.6% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.44
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/30 20/26
SAT Range 1070/1240 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

 Hanover College WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 Hanover College WCU
Graduation Rate 71% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $279 $227

Diversity

 Hanover College WCU
% Men 7% 4%
% Women 10% 10%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 79%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 Hanover College WCU
% In-State 67% 78%
% Out-of-State 28% 19%

Campus

 Hanover 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 Hanover College based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 1,157 students)

Hanover College vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hanover College or WCU?

  • Hanover College is 4,100.3% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($42,003.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 740.1% higher at Hanover College than Western Carolina University ($42,003.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Hanover College ($12,252 vs. $22,929)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 15.2% lower than costs at Hanover College ($11,764 vs. $13,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hanover College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hanover College students is 512% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($33,304 vs. $5,442)

Hanover College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Hanover College (1103) is 71 points higher than at WCU (1032)
  • Incoming Hanover College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Hanover College students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at WCU (3.44)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Hanover College (84%)

Hanover College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hanover 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 Hanover College.

  • The graduation rate at Hanover College is higher than Western Carolina University (71% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Hanover College earn on average $9,500 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Hanover College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Hanover College graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
  • More Hanover College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 58%)

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