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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW Berry College University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU Georgia State UNCG NC State Mercer UNC Chapel Hill| Oglethorpe University | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Ogelthorpe | WCU | ||
| Location | Atlanta, GA | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,491 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #697 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | oglethorpe.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Ogelthorpe | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $43,710 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $43,710 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,400 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,094 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,867 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Ogelthorpe | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,816 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 1,999 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 71% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.3% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1065/1305 | 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 | Jul 15, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Ogelthorpe | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Ogelthorpe | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,800 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $227 |
Diversity |
Ogelthorpe | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 34% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 26% | 1% |
Students |
Ogelthorpe | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Ogelthorpe | 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 Ogelthorpe based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,491 students)
Ogelthorpe vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Ogelthorpe or WCU?
- Oglethorpe University is 4,271% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($43,710.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 774.2% higher at Ogelthorpe than Western Carolina University ($43,710.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Ogelthorpe ($13,022 vs. $20,094)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 28.9% lower than costs at Oglethorpe University ($11,173 vs. $14,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Oglethorpe University than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Oglethorpe University students is 714.6% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($36,867 vs. $4,526)
Ogelthorpe vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Ogelthorpe or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Ogelthorpe .
- The average SAT score at Oglethorpe University (1140) is 108 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming Ogelthorpe students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman Ogelthorpe students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Ogelthorpe (71%)
Ogelthorpe vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Ogelthorpe 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 Ogelthorpe.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Oglethorpe University (50% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from Oglethorpe University earn on average $10,700 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($49,800 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Ogelthorpe graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Ogelthorpe graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ogelthorpe students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/