St. Cloud State University vs. WCU

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

 St. Cloud State University WCU
Location Saint Cloud, MN Cullowhee, NC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 10,514 11,628
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #622 #742
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 St. Cloud State University WCU
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $8,811 $5,000
Room & Board $9,630 $11,764
Avg Net Price $14,648 $12,252
Avg Grant Aid $7,348 $5,442
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 99%

Admission

 St. Cloud State University WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,026 18,183
Admitted 4,772 15,758
Acceptance Rate 94.9% 86.7%
Enrolled % 18.8% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 20/26
SAT Range 970/1280 1050/1260
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 15, 2026 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

 St. Cloud State University WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 St. Cloud State University WCU
Graduation Rate 48% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $232 $227

Diversity

 St. Cloud State University WCU
% Men 8% 4%
% Women 12% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 79%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 St. Cloud State University WCU
% In-State 75% 78%
% Out-of-State 11% 19%

Campus

 St. Cloud State 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 St. Cloud State University based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 10,514 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Cloud State University or WCU?

  • Saint Cloud State University is 781.1% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76.2% higher at St. Cloud State University than Western Carolina University ($8,811.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than St. Cloud State University ($12,252 vs. $14,648)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 22.2% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($9,630 vs. $11,764)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Saint Cloud State University (99% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Cloud State University students is 35% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($7,348 vs. $5,442)

St. Cloud State University vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 2 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming St. Cloud State University students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at WCU (22)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than WCU (86.7%)

St. Cloud State University vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St. Cloud State 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 St. Cloud State University.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Saint Cloud State University (50% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $7,600 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $490 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($22,010 vs. $22,500)
  • WCU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($227 vs. $232)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 58%)

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