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ASU UNC Charlotte ECU UNC Chapel Hill UNCG NC State UD University of North Carolina at Asheville Auburn UofSC ETSU Coastal Carolina| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNCW | WCU | ||
| Location | Wilmington, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 17,843 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #377 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uncw.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNCW | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,443 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,063 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,120 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,709 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,217 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 56% | 99% |
Admission |
UNCW | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,860 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 11,605 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.8% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.4% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1370 | 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 | Feb 1, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
UNCW | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNCW | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,700 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $227 |
Diversity |
UNCW | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 34% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 66% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
UNCW | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 18% | ||
Campus |
UNCW | 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
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (17,843 students vs. 11,635 students)
UNCW vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNCW or WCU?
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is 344.3% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($4,443.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 281.3% higher at UNCW than Western Carolina University ($19,063.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than UNCW ($13,022 vs. $18,709)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 8.5% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($11,173 vs. $12,120)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (99% vs. 56%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Wilmington students is 37.4% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($6,217 vs. $4,526)
UNCW vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or UNCW .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 130 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming UNCW students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman UNCW students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than UNCW (68.8%)
UNCW vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNCW 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 UNCW.
- The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than Western Carolina University (67% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from University of North Carolina at Wilmington earn on average $5,600 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($44,700 vs. $39,100)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $1,510 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,010)
- UNCW graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($211 vs. $227)
- More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/