Montreat College vs. WCU

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

 Montreat College WCU
Location Montreat, NC Cullowhee, NC
Setting Midsize Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 932 11,628
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #742
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montreat.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Montreat College WCU
Tuition (In State) $31,460 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $5,000
Room & Board $10,730 $11,764
Avg Net Price $26,294 $12,252
Avg Grant Aid $19,528 $5,442
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Montreat College WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,154 18,183
Admitted 1,412 15,758
Acceptance Rate 65.6% 86.7%
Enrolled % 14.2% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.44
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 20/26
SAT Range 1030/1220 1050/1260
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025

Academics

 Montreat College WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (65%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (4%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 Montreat College WCU
Graduation Rate 35% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,900 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $258 $227

Diversity

 Montreat College WCU
% Men 6% 4%
% Women 13% 10%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 79%
% Black 16% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

 Montreat College WCU
% In-State 52% 78%
% Out-of-State 44% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than Montreat College based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 932 students)

Montreat College vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Montreat College or WCU?

  • Montreat College is 3,046% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($31,460.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 529.2% higher at Montreat College than Western Carolina University ($31,460.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Montreat College ($12,252 vs. $26,294)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montreat College are 9.6% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,730 vs. $11,764)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montreat College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montreat College students is 258.8% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($19,528 vs. $5,442)

Montreat College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 72 points higher than at Montreat College (960)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Montreat College (21)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Montreat College (3.07)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Montreat College (65.6%)

Montreat College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Montreat 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 Montreat College.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Montreat College (50% vs. 35%)
  • Graduates from Montreat College earn on average $1,800 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($40,900 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $2,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Montreat College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $25,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Montreat College graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Montreat College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 55%)

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