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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke Reinhardt University BYU| Shorter University | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Shorter | WCU | ||
| Location | Rome, GA | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,515 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #872 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | shorter.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Shorter | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $22,380 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,380 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,400 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,490 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,057 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Shorter | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 871 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 849 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97.5% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 31.4% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.25 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1290 | 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 25, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Shorter | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Shorter | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 47% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,300 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 38% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $28,418 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $293 | $227 |
Diversity |
Shorter | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 24% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Shorter | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 84% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Shorter | 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 Shorter based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,515 students)
Shorter vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Shorter or WCU?
- Shorter University is 2,138% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($22,380.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 347.6% higher at Shorter than Western Carolina University ($22,380.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Shorter ($13,022 vs. $13,490)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shorter University are 18.9% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($9,400 vs. $11,173)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Shorter University than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Shorter University students is 343.2% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($20,057 vs. $4,526)
Shorter vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Shorter or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Shorter .
- The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 63 points higher than at Shorter (969)
- Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Shorter (21)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Shorter (3.25)
- Shorter has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than WCU (84.8%)
Shorter vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Shorter 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 Shorter.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Shorter University (50% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from Shorter University earn on average $10,200 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $6,408 lower median federal student loan debt than Shorter graduates. ($22,010 vs. $28,418)
- WCU graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than Shorter graduates. ($227 vs. $293)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shorter students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/