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ECU ASU UNC Chapel Hill UNC Charlotte UNCW ETSU UNCG NC State University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU GS Winthrop University| University of North Carolina at Asheville | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of North Carolina at Asheville | WCU | ||
| Location | Asheville, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 2,914 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #444 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | unca.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of North Carolina at Asheville | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,122 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,470 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,556 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,730 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,491 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 90% | 99% |
Admission |
University of North Carolina at Asheville | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,278 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 3,179 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.3% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.49 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1145/1340 | 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 | Aug 1, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
University of North Carolina at Asheville | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of North Carolina at Asheville | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,900 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,641 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $213 | $227 |
Diversity |
University of North Carolina at Asheville | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
University of North Carolina at Asheville | WCU | ||
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| % In-State | 82% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 18% | ||
Campus |
University of North Carolina at Asheville | WCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Carolina University is larger than than University of North Carolina at Asheville based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 2,914 students)
University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of North Carolina at Asheville or WCU?
- University of North Carolina at Asheville is 312.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($4,122.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 329.4% higher at University of North Carolina at Asheville than Western Carolina University ($21,470.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than University of North Carolina at Asheville ($13,022 vs. $14,730)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Asheville are 5.8% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,556 vs. $11,173)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than University of North Carolina at Asheville (99% vs. 90%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Asheville students is 43.4% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($6,491 vs. $4,526)
University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of North Carolina at Asheville or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or University of North Carolina at Asheville .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Asheville (1159) is 127 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming University of North Carolina at Asheville students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman University of North Carolina at Asheville 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 (84.8%) than University of North Carolina at Asheville (74.3%)
University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of North Carolina at Asheville 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 University of North Carolina at Asheville.
- The graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Asheville is higher than Western Carolina University (61% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $1,200 more per year than University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $37,900)
- University of North Carolina at Asheville students graduate with a $1,369 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,641 vs. $22,010)
- University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($213 vs. $227)
- More University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/