WCU vs. AU

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

 WCU AU
Location Cullowhee, NC Anderson, SC
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 11,628 4,325
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #742 #759
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcu.edu andersonuniversity.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WCU AU
Tuition (In State) $1,000 $32,710
Tuition (Out of State) $5,000 $32,710
Room & Board $11,764 $12,290
Avg Net Price $12,252 $22,222
Avg Grant Aid $5,442 $25,586
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

 WCU AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,183 4,732
Admitted 15,758 2,499
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 52.8%
Enrolled % 13.3% 34%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 22/28
SAT Range 1050/1260 1090/1290
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, 2026

Academics

 WCU AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 WCU AU
% Men 4% 9%
% Women 10% 12%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 83%
% Black 6% 8%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 WCU AU
% In-State 78% 68%
% Out-of-State 19% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 4,325 students)

WCU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or AU?

  • Anderson University is 3,171% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($32,710.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 554.2% higher at AU than Western Carolina University ($32,710.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than AU ($12,252 vs. $22,222)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 4.5% lower than costs at Anderson University ($11,764 vs. $12,290)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University as Anderson University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 370.2% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($25,586 vs. $5,442)

WCU vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Anderson University (1078) is 46 points higher than at WCU (1032)
  • Incoming AU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
  • 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 (86.7%) than AU (52.8%)

WCU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WCU or AU? 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 AU and WCU.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Anderson University (50% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $1,600 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $37,500)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,852 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $26,862)
  • WCU graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans 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/