WCU vs. AU

Deciding between Western Carolina University and Anderson University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Western Carolina University
Anderson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Setting
  • WCU Distant Town
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 11,686
  • AU 4,710
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WCU #698
  • AU #662
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WCU -
  • AU Baptist
  • Status
  • WCU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WCU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WCU $4,630
  • AU $34,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WCU $8,630
  • AU $34,970
  • Room & Board
  • WCU $12,354
  • AU $12,720
  • Average Net Price
  • WCU $13,767
  • AU $24,434
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WCU $5,993
  • AU $25,969
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WCU 81%
  • AU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WCU 19,742
  • AU 4,548
  • Admitted
  • WCU 16,154
  • AU 2,488
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WCU 81.8%
  • AU 54.7%
  • Enrolled
  • WCU 12.7%
  • AU 32.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1180
  • AU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 22
  • AU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • WCU 3.44
  • AU 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WCU B+
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WCU Moderate
  • AU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • WCU
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • WCU 19/25
  • AU 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • WCU 1080/1270
  • AU 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WCU 16:1
  • AU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WCU 50%
  • AU 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WCU $39,100
  • AU $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WCU 58%
  • AU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WCU $22,010
  • AU $26,862
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WCU $227
  • AU $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WCU 41%
  • AU 42%
  • % Women
  • WCU 59%
  • AU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WCU Low
  • AU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • WCU No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • WCU 79%
  • AU 83%
  • % Asian
  • WCU 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • WCU 6%
  • AU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • WCU 6%
  • AU 3%
  • % Native American
  • WCU 1%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WCU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WCU 4%
  • AU 2%
  • % International
  • WCU 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WCU 1%
  • AU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WCU 75%
  • AU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WCU 22%
  • AU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WCU Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WCU No
  • AU No
  • Meal Plan
  • WCU Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WCU No
  • AU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • WCU Yes
  • AU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC with Anderson University in Anderson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Carolina University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 4,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting); Anderson University is in Anderson, SC (Small City setting).
  • Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Carolina University 16:1; Anderson University 13:1.

WCU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or AU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than AU ($13,767 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 2.9% lower than at Anderson University ($12,354 vs. $12,720).
  • Anderson University is 655.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $30,340 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $4,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 305.2% higher at AU than at Western Carolina University (about $26,340 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $8,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at Western Carolina University (98% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 333.3% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($25,969 vs. $5,993).

WCU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU or AU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AU and WCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Anderson University (1190) is 10 points higher than at WCU (1180).
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Carolina University 1080/1270; Anderson University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Carolina University 19/25; Anderson University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WCU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WCU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at WCU (3.44).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at WCU vs. 32.5% at AU.

WCU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WCU and AU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Western Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Western Carolina University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,100 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Carolina University graduates have a $4,852 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($22,010 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($227 vs. $277).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.