Thomas More vs. WCU

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

Thomas More WCU
Location Crestview Hills, KY Cullowhee, NC
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 1,958 11,635
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #688 #763
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website thomasmore.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Thomas More WCU
Tuition (In State) $34,060 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $34,060 $5,000
Room & Board $10,014 $11,173
Avg Net Price $21,962 $13,022
Avg Grant Aid $23,834 $4,526
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Thomas More WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,919 17,917
Admitted 2,751 15,201
Acceptance Rate 94.2% 84.8%
Enrolled % 14.1% 12.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.35 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 19/26
SAT Range 1005/1256 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 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Thomas More WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (53%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
  • Social Sciences (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Thomas More WCU
Graduation Rate 52% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,500 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $279 $227

Diversity

Thomas More WCU
% Men 48% 41%
% Women 52% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 79%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

Thomas More WCU
% In-State 51% 80%
% Out-of-State 41% 18%

Campus

Thomas More WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than Thomas More based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,958 students)

Thomas More vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas More or WCU?

  • Thomas More University is 3,306% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($34,060.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 581.2% higher at Thomas More than Western Carolina University ($34,060.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Thomas More ($13,022 vs. $21,962)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas More University are 11.6% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,014 vs. $11,173)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas More University than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas More University students is 426.6% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($23,834 vs. $4,526)

Thomas More vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 16 points higher than at Thomas More (1016)
  • Incoming Thomas More students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at WCU (22)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Thomas More (3.35)
  • Thomas More has a higher acceptance rate (94.2%) than WCU (84.8%)

Thomas More vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Thomas More 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 Thomas More.

  • The graduation rate at Thomas More is higher than Western Carolina University (52% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Thomas More University earn on average $15,400 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($54,500 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Thomas More graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Thomas More graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
  • More Thomas More 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/