Spelman vs. WCU

Deciding between Spelman College and Western Carolina University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Spelman College
Western Carolina University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • Setting
  • Spelman Large City
  • WCU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Spelman 3,417
  • WCU 11,686
  • Type
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Spelman #271
  • WCU #698
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Spelman -
  • WCU -
  • Status
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Spelman
  • WCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • WCU $4,630
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Spelman $31,556
  • WCU $8,630
  • Room & Board
  • Spelman $18,091
  • WCU $12,354
  • Average Net Price
  • Spelman $40,354
  • WCU $13,767
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Spelman $10,614
  • WCU $5,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Spelman 96%
  • WCU 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Spelman 12,023
  • WCU 19,742
  • Admitted
  • Spelman 2,990
  • WCU 16,154
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • WCU 81.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • WCU 12.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Spelman 1210
  • WCU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Spelman 25
  • WCU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Spelman 3.75
  • WCU 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Spelman A-
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Spelman Challenging
  • WCU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Spelman High
  • WCU
  • ACT Range
  • Spelman 22/29
  • WCU 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • WCU 1080/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Spelman Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Spelman 11:1
  • WCU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Spelman 77%
  • WCU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Spelman $51,300
  • WCU $39,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Spelman 47%
  • WCU 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Spelman $27,000
  • WCU $22,010
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Spelman $279
  • WCU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Spelman 5%
  • WCU 41%
  • % Women
  • Spelman 95%
  • WCU 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • WCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Spelman Yes
  • WCU No
  • % White
  • Spelman 0%
  • WCU 79%
  • % Asian
  • Spelman 0%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Black
  • Spelman 96%
  • WCU 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Spelman 0%
  • WCU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Spelman 0%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Spelman 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Spelman 2%
  • WCU 4%
  • % International
  • Spelman 1%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Spelman 0%
  • WCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Spelman 21%
  • WCU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Spelman 78%
  • WCU 22%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Spelman Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Spelman No
  • WCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Spelman Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Spelman No
  • WCU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Spelman No
  • WCU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Spelman College in Atlanta, GA with Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Carolina University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Spelman College is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); Western Carolina University is in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting).
  • Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Spelman College 11:1; Western Carolina University 16:1.

Spelman vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or WCU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Spelman ($13,767 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 31.7% lower than at Spelman College ($12,354 vs. $18,091).
  • Spelman College is 581.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $26,926 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $4,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 265.7% higher at Spelman than at Western Carolina University (about $22,926 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $8,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spelman College than at Western Carolina University (96% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Spelman College students is 77.1% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($10,614 vs. $5,993).

Spelman vs. WCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Spelman or WCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WCU and Spelman.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spelman College (1210) is 30 points higher than at WCU (1180).
  • Incoming Spelman students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; Western Carolina University 1080/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; Western Carolina University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027; WCU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at WCU (3.44).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 12.7% at WCU.

Spelman vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and WCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Spelman College's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Western Carolina University's (50%).
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,300 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Carolina University graduates have a $4,990 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($22,010 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.