IU East vs. WCU

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

 IU East WCU
Location Richmond, IN Cullowhee, NC
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 2,985 11,628
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #876 #742
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iue.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 IU East WCU
Tuition (In State) $7,492 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $21,356 $5,000
Room & Board $10,244 $11,764
Avg Net Price $9,484 $12,252
Avg Grant Aid $7,602 $5,442
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 99%

Admission

 IU East WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,749 18,183
Admitted 1,246 15,758
Acceptance Rate 71.2% 86.7%
Enrolled % 27% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/25 20/26
SAT Range 1010/1220 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 Aug 18, 2026 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

 IU East WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Human Services (7%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 IU East WCU
Graduation Rate 19% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,900 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 40% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $211 $227

Diversity

 IU East WCU
% Men 3% 4%
% Women 5% 10%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 79%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 IU East WCU
% In-State 79% 78%
% Out-of-State 20% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than IU East based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 2,985 students)

IU East vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU East or WCU?

  • Indiana University East is 649.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($7,492.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 327.1% higher at IU East than Western Carolina University ($21,356.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University East than WCU ($9,484 vs. $12,252)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University East are 14.8% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,244 vs. $11,764)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Indiana University East (99% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University East students is 39.7% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($7,602 vs. $5,442)

IU East vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 71 points higher than at IU East (961)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at IU East (21)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at IU East (3.41)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than IU East (71.2%)

IU East vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IU East 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 IU East.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Indiana University East (50% vs. 19%)
  • Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $6,200 more per year than IU East graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $32,900)
  • Indiana University East students graduate with a $1,510 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,010)
  • IU East graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($211 vs. $227)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU East students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 40%)

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