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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville SCAD ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNCSA | WCU | ||
| Location | Winston-Salem, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,104 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #291 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uncsa.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNCSA | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,497 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,731 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,902 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,251 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,868 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 69% | 99% |
Admission |
UNCSA | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,139 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 362 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 31.8% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 58% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.75 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1115/1350 | 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 15, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
UNCSA | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNCSA | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 58% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 56% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $227 |
Diversity |
UNCSA | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
UNCSA | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 43% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 52% | 18% | ||
Campus |
UNCSA | 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 UNCSA based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,104 students)
UNCSA vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNCSA or WCU?
- University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 549.7% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($6,497.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 374.6% higher at UNCSA than Western Carolina University ($23,731.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina School of the Arts than WCU ($11,251 vs. $13,022)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 15.5% lower than costs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($11,173 vs. $12,902)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than University of North Carolina School of the Arts (99% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students is 140.1% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($10,868 vs. $4,526)
UNCSA vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNCSA or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or UNCSA .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1108) is 76 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming UNCSA students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman UNCSA students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than UNCSA (31.8%)
UNCSA vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNCSA 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 UNCSA.
- The graduation rate at UNCSA is higher than Western Carolina University (58% vs. 50%)
- Graduates of University of North Carolina School of the Arts and WCU have equivalent average earnings after ten years ($39,100 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCSA graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than UNCSA graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCSA students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/