State University of New York at Plattsburgh vs. WCU

Deciding between State University of New York at Plattsburgh 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 Plattsburgh
Western Carolina University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • Setting
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh Distant Town
  • WCU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 4,540
  • WCU 11,686
  • Type
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh Public 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh #467
  • WCU #698
  • Religious Affiliation
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh -
  • WCU -
  • Status
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh Non-profit
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh
  • WCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh $9,035
  • WCU $4,630
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh $18,945
  • WCU $8,630
  • Room & Board
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh $17,300
  • WCU $12,354
  • Average Net Price
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh $15,412
  • WCU $13,767
  • Average Grant Aid
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh $12,733
  • WCU $5,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 81%
  • WCU 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 8,830
  • WCU 19,742
  • Admitted
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 6,924
  • WCU 16,154
  • Acceptance Rate
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 78.4%
  • WCU 81.8%
  • Enrolled
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 11.5%
  • WCU 12.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 1170
  • WCU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 25
  • WCU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 3.11
  • WCU 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh B
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh Average
  • WCU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh
  • WCU
  • ACT Range
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 22/28
  • WCU 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 1080/1250
  • WCU 1080/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 15:1
  • WCU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh
    • Business (26%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • 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 Plattsburgh 59%
  • WCU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh $44,000
  • WCU $39,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 63%
  • WCU 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh $22,000
  • WCU $22,010
  • Median Loan Payment
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh $227
  • WCU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 39%
  • WCU 41%
  • % Women
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 61%
  • WCU 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh Medium
  • WCU Low
  • HBCU
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh No
  • WCU No
  • % White
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 68%
  • WCU 79%
  • % Asian
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 3%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Black
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 7%
  • WCU 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 10%
  • WCU 6%
  • % Native American
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 0%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 2%
  • WCU 4%
  • % International
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 6%
  • WCU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 4%
  • WCU 1%

  • Students

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

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare State University of New York at Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, 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 Plattsburgh based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 4,540 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh is located in Plattsburgh, NY (Distant Town setting); Western Carolina University is in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting).
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh 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 Plattsburgh 15:1; Western Carolina University 16:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, State University of New York at Plattsburgh 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 Plattsburgh ($13,767 vs. $15,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 28.6% lower than at State University of New York at Plattsburgh ($12,354 vs. $17,300).
  • State University of New York at Plattsburgh is 95.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $4,405 more per year; $9,035.00 vs. $4,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 119.5% higher at State University of New York at Plattsburgh than at Western Carolina University (about $10,315 more per year; $18,945.00 vs. $8,630.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at State University of New York at Plattsburgh as at Western Carolina University (81% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by State University of New York at Plattsburgh students is 112.5% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($12,733 vs. $5,993).

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

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Carolina University (1180) is 10 points higher than at State University of New York at Plattsburgh (1170).
  • Incoming State University of New York at Plattsburgh 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: State University of New York at Plattsburgh 1080/1250; Western Carolina University 1080/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Plattsburgh 22/28; Western Carolina University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: State University of New York at Plattsburgh - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WCU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at State University of New York at Plattsburgh (3.11).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than State University of New York at Plattsburgh (78.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at State University of New York at Plattsburgh vs. 12.7% at WCU.

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

How do outcomes compare for State University of New York at Plattsburgh 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 Plattsburgh's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Western Carolina University's (50%).
  • Graduates from State University of New York at Plattsburgh earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,000 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Plattsburgh graduates have a $10 lower median loan debt than WCU graduates ($22,000 vs. $22,010).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Western Carolina University and State University of New York at Plattsburgh graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($227 vs. $227).
  • More State University of New York at Plattsburgh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.