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Clemson UNC Chapel Hill Virginia Tech UNC Charlotte ECU UofSC ASU Penn State Ohio State Purdue Georgia Maryland| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NC State | WCU | ||
| Location | Raleigh, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 36,700 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #123 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ncsu.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NC State | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,535 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,276 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,748 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,852 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,181 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 71% | 99% |
Admission |
NC State | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 35,568 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 16,779 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.2% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 33.5% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.83 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 28/33 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1280/1460 | 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 | Jan 15, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
NC State | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NC State | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,200 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,782 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $214 | $227 |
Diversity |
NC State | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
NC State | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 18% | ||
Campus |
NC State | 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
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (36,700 students vs. 11,635 students)
NC State vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NC State or WCU?
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh is 553.5% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($6,535.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 465.5% higher at NC State than Western Carolina University ($28,276.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than NC State ($13,022 vs. $14,852)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 14.1% lower than costs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($11,173 vs. $12,748)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (99% vs. 71%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students is 102.9% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($9,181 vs. $4,526)
NC State vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NC State or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or NC State .
- The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 232 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming NC State students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than NC State (47.2%)
NC State vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NC State 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 NC State.
- The graduation rate at NC State is higher than Western Carolina University (72% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $18,100 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $39,100)
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh students graduate with a $1,228 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,782 vs. $22,010)
- NC State graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($214 vs. $227)
- More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/