The University of West Florida vs. WCU

Should I go to The University of West Florida or Western Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if The University of West Florida 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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The University of West Florida vs. Western Carolina University comparison
The University of West Florida Western Carolina University College 3 College 4
The University of West Florida Western Carolina University
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Overview

The University of West Florida WCU
Location Pensacola, FL Cullowhee, NC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 13,521 11,635
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #727 #763
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwf.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

The University of West Florida WCU
Tuition (In State) $4,319 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $16,587 $5,000
Room & Board $11,268 $11,173
Avg Net Price $8,609 $13,022
Avg Grant Aid $11,515 $4,526
% Receiving Grant Aid 84% 99%

Admission

The University of West Florida WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,113 17,917
Admitted 4,377 15,201
Acceptance Rate 48% 84.8%
Enrolled % 27% 12.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 19/26
SAT Range 1050/1230 1020/1240
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

The University of West Florida WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

The University of West Florida WCU
Graduation Rate 48% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,750 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $193 $227

Diversity

The University of West Florida WCU
% Men 38% 41%
% Women 62% 59%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 65% 79%
% Black 13% 6%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

The University of West Florida WCU
% In-State 66% 80%
% Out-of-State 11% 18%

Campus

The University of West Florida 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

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (13,521 students vs. 11,635 students)

The University of West Florida vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of West Florida or WCU?

  • The University of West Florida is 331.9% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($4,319.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 231.7% higher at The University of West Florida than Western Carolina University ($16,587.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than WCU ($8,609 vs. $13,022)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 0.9% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($11,173 vs. $11,268)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than The University of West Florida (99% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 154.4% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($11,515 vs. $4,526)

The University of West Florida vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of West Florida (1053) is 21 points higher than at WCU (1032)
  • Incoming The University of West Florida students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WCU (22)
  • Accepted freshman The University of West Florida students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at WCU (3.44)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than The University of West Florida (48%)

The University of West Florida vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, The University of West Florida 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 The University of West Florida.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than The University of West Florida (50% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from The University of West Florida earn on average $2,100 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $39,100)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $3,260 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($18,750 vs. $22,010)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($193 vs. $227)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of West Florida students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 55%)

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