North Carolina Central University vs. WCU

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

 North Carolina Central University WCU
Location Durham, NC Cullowhee, NC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 7,553 11,635
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #940 #763
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 North Carolina Central University WCU
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $5,000
Room & Board $11,864 $11,173
Avg Net Price $13,708 $13,022
Avg Grant Aid $16,168 $4,526
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 99%

Admission

 North Carolina Central University WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,423 17,917
Admitted 7,107 15,201
Acceptance Rate 84.4% 84.8%
Enrolled % 15.2% 12.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 3.44
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/23 19/26
SAT Range 810/1130 1020/1240
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 1, 2025 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

 North Carolina Central University WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 North Carolina Central University WCU
Graduation Rate 38% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $320 $227

Diversity

 North Carolina Central University WCU
% Men 30% 41%
% Women 70% 59%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 6% 79%
% Black 81% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 North Carolina Central University WCU
% In-State 65% 80%
% Out-of-State 29% 18%

Campus

 North Carolina Central University WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than North Carolina Central University based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 7,553 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Carolina Central University or WCU?

  • North Carolina Central University is 272.8% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($3,728.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 235.3% higher at North Carolina Central University than Western Carolina University ($16,764.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than North Carolina Central University ($13,022 vs. $13,708)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 6.2% lower than costs at North Carolina Central University ($11,173 vs. $11,864)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than North Carolina Central University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina Central University students is 257.2% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($16,168 vs. $4,526)

North Carolina Central University vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 153 points higher than at North Carolina Central University (879)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at North Carolina Central University (19)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at North Carolina Central University (3.27)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than North Carolina Central University (84.4%)

North Carolina Central University vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Carolina Central University 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 North Carolina Central University.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than North Carolina Central University (50% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $3,900 more per year than North Carolina Central University graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $35,200)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $8,990 lower median federal student loan debt than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($22,010 vs. $31,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $93 less per month on federal student loans than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($227 vs. $320)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Carolina Central University students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 23%)

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