Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU GS| Piedmont College | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Piedmont College | WCU | ||
| Location | Demorest, GA | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,843 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #522 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Church of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | piedmont.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Piedmont College | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $28,970 | $1,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,970 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,562 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,792 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,065 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Piedmont College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,331 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 1,500 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 64.4% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.1% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.54 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 990/1200 | 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 |
Piedmont College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Piedmont College | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 46% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,000 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 44% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,736 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $227 |
Diversity |
Piedmont College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 28% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 72% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 10% | 1% |
Students |
Piedmont College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 85% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Piedmont College | 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
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Piedmont College based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,843 students)
Piedmont College vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Piedmont College or WCU?
- Piedmont College is 2,797% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($28,970.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 479.4% higher at Piedmont College than Western Carolina University ($28,970.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Piedmont College ($13,022 vs. $18,792)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 3.5% lower than costs at Piedmont College ($11,173 vs. $11,562)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Piedmont College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Piedmont College students is 431.7% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($24,065 vs. $4,526)
Piedmont College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Piedmont College or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Piedmont College .
- The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 37 points higher than at Piedmont College (995)
- Incoming Piedmont College students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman Piedmont College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Piedmont College (64.4%)
Piedmont College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Piedmont 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 Piedmont College.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Piedmont College (50% vs. 46%)
- Graduates from Piedmont College earn on average $1,900 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($41,000 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $1,726 lower median federal student loan debt than Piedmont College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $23,736)
- WCU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Piedmont College graduates. ($227 vs. $245)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Piedmont College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 44%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/