HPU vs. WCU

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

 HPU WCU
Location High Point, NC Cullowhee, NC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 6,052 11,628
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #742
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website highpoint.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 HPU WCU
Tuition (In State) $38,748 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $38,748 $5,000
Room & Board $18,462 $11,764
Avg Net Price $43,578 $12,252
Avg Grant Aid $18,149 $5,442
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 99%

Admission

 HPU WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,625 18,183
Admitted 12,004 15,758
Acceptance Rate 76.8% 86.7%
Enrolled % 12.2% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31 20/26
SAT Range 1110/1300 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 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

 HPU WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 HPU WCU
Graduation Rate - 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,421 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $231 $227

Diversity

 HPU WCU
% Men 6% 4%
% Women 11% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 79%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 HPU WCU
% In-State 24% 78%
% Out-of-State 75% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than HPU based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 6,052 students)

HPU vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HPU or WCU?

  • High Point University is 3,774.8% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($38,748.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 675% higher at HPU than Western Carolina University ($38,748.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than HPU ($12,252 vs. $43,578)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 56.9% lower than costs at High Point University ($11,764 vs. $18,462)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than High Point University (99% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by High Point University students is 233.5% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($18,149 vs. $5,442)

HPU vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at High Point University (1113) is 81 points higher than at WCU (1032)
  • Incoming HPU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (22)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at HPU (3.4)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than HPU (76.8%)

HPU vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, HPU 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 HPU.

  • Graduates from High Point University earn on average $2,900 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $411 lower median federal student loan debt than HPU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $22,421)
  • WCU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than HPU graduates. ($227 vs. $231)
  • More HPU 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/