State University of New York at Oswego vs. WCU

Deciding between State University of New York at Oswego 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.

State University of New York at Oswego
Western Carolina University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • Setting
  • State University of New York at Oswego Distant Town
  • WCU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • State University of New York at Oswego 6,715
  • WCU 11,686
  • Type
  • State University of New York at Oswego Public 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • State University of New York at Oswego #440
  • WCU #698
  • Religious Affiliation
  • State University of New York at Oswego -
  • WCU -
  • Status
  • State University of New York at Oswego Non-profit
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • State University of New York at Oswego
  • WCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • State University of New York at Oswego $8,825
  • WCU $4,630
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • State University of New York at Oswego $18,735
  • WCU $8,630
  • Room & Board
  • State University of New York at Oswego $16,290
  • WCU $12,354
  • Average Net Price
  • State University of New York at Oswego $15,853
  • WCU $13,767
  • Average Grant Aid
  • State University of New York at Oswego $11,004
  • WCU $5,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • State University of New York at Oswego 85%
  • WCU 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • State University of New York at Oswego 15,149
  • WCU 19,742
  • Admitted
  • State University of New York at Oswego 12,202
  • WCU 16,154
  • Acceptance Rate
  • State University of New York at Oswego 80.5%
  • WCU 81.8%
  • Enrolled
  • State University of New York at Oswego 10.4%
  • WCU 12.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • State University of New York at Oswego 1170
  • WCU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • State University of New York at Oswego 26
  • WCU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • State University of New York at Oswego 3.49
  • WCU 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • State University of New York at Oswego B+
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • State University of New York at Oswego Challenging
  • WCU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • State University of New York at Oswego
  • WCU
  • ACT Range
  • State University of New York at Oswego 23/29
  • WCU 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • State University of New York at Oswego 1070/1270
  • WCU 1080/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • State University of New York at Oswego Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • State University of New York at Oswego Jan 15, 2027
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • State University of New York at Oswego 15:1
  • WCU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • State University of New York at Oswego
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • State University of New York at Oswego 57%
  • WCU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • State University of New York at Oswego $44,800
  • WCU $39,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • State University of New York at Oswego 69%
  • WCU 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • State University of New York at Oswego $21,515
  • WCU $22,010
  • Median Loan Payment
  • State University of New York at Oswego $222
  • WCU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • State University of New York at Oswego 47%
  • WCU 41%
  • % Women
  • State University of New York at Oswego 53%
  • WCU 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • State University of New York at Oswego Low
  • WCU Low
  • HBCU
  • State University of New York at Oswego No
  • WCU No
  • % White
  • State University of New York at Oswego 75%
  • WCU 79%
  • % Asian
  • State University of New York at Oswego 3%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Black
  • State University of New York at Oswego 7%
  • WCU 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • State University of New York at Oswego 10%
  • WCU 6%
  • % Native American
  • State University of New York at Oswego 0%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • State University of New York at Oswego 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • State University of New York at Oswego 2%
  • WCU 4%
  • % International
  • State University of New York at Oswego 1%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • State University of New York at Oswego 0%
  • WCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • State University of New York at Oswego 92%
  • WCU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • State University of New York at Oswego 5%
  • WCU 22%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • State University of New York at Oswego Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • State University of New York at Oswego No
  • WCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • State University of New York at Oswego Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • State University of New York at Oswego No
  • WCU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • State University of New York at Oswego Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Learn More
  • State University of New York at Oswego Details
  • WCU Details

Comparable Facts

Compare State University of New York at Oswego in Oswego, NY 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 State University of New York at Oswego based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 6,715 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • State University of New York at Oswego is located in Oswego, NY (Distant Town setting); Western Carolina University is in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting).
  • State University of New York at Oswego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: State University of New York at Oswego 15:1; Western Carolina University 16:1.

State University of New York at Oswego vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, State University of New York at Oswego 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 State University of New York at Oswego ($13,767 vs. $15,853).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 24.2% lower than at State University of New York at Oswego ($12,354 vs. $16,290).
  • State University of New York at Oswego is 90.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $4,195 more per year; $8,825.00 vs. $4,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 117.1% higher at State University of New York at Oswego than at Western Carolina University (about $10,105 more per year; $18,735.00 vs. $8,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at State University of New York at Oswego than at Western Carolina University (85% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by State University of New York at Oswego students is 83.6% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($11,004 vs. $5,993).

State University of New York at Oswego vs. WCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, State University of New York at Oswego 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 State University of New York at Oswego.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Carolina University (1180) is 10 points higher than at State University of New York at Oswego (1170).
  • Incoming State University of New York at Oswego students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Oswego 1070/1270; Western Carolina University 1080/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Oswego 23/29; Western Carolina University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: State University of New York at Oswego - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: State University of New York at Oswego Jan 15, 2027; WCU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman State University of New York at Oswego students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at WCU (3.44).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than State University of New York at Oswego (80.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at State University of New York at Oswego vs. 12.7% at WCU.

State University of New York at Oswego vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for State University of New York at Oswego 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).

  • State University of New York at Oswego's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Western Carolina University's (50%).
  • Graduates from State University of New York at Oswego earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Oswego graduates have a $495 lower median loan debt than WCU graduates ($21,515 vs. $22,010).
  • Among borrowers, State University of New York at Oswego graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WCU graduates ($222 vs. $227).
  • More State University of New York at Oswego graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 58%)

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.