WCU vs. Belmont

Deciding between Western Carolina University and Belmont 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
Belmont University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • Belmont Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • WCU Distant Town
  • Belmont Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 11,686
  • Belmont 8,803
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • Belmont Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WCU #698
  • Belmont #300
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WCU -
  • Belmont Interdenominational
  • Status
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Belmont Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WCU
  • Belmont

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WCU $4,630
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WCU $8,630
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Room & Board
  • WCU $12,354
  • Belmont $15,010
  • Average Net Price
  • WCU $13,767
  • Belmont $38,578
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WCU $5,993
  • Belmont $23,992
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WCU 81%
  • Belmont 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WCU 19,742
  • Belmont 9,165
  • Admitted
  • WCU 16,154
  • Belmont 8,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WCU 81.8%
  • Belmont 95.3%
  • Enrolled
  • WCU 12.7%
  • Belmont 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1180
  • Belmont 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 22
  • Belmont 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • WCU 3.44
  • Belmont 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WCU B+
  • Belmont A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WCU Moderate
  • Belmont Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • WCU
  • Belmont
  • ACT Range
  • WCU 19/25
  • Belmont 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • WCU 1080/1270
  • Belmont 1160/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • Belmont Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • Belmont Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WCU 16:1
  • Belmont 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Belmont
    • Visual and Performing Arts (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)
    • Communications Technology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WCU 50%
  • Belmont 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WCU $39,100
  • Belmont $49,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WCU 58%
  • Belmont 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WCU $22,010
  • Belmont $21,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WCU $227
  • Belmont $225

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WCU 41%
  • Belmont 34%
  • % Women
  • WCU 59%
  • Belmont 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WCU Low
  • Belmont Very Low
  • HBCU
  • WCU No
  • Belmont No
  • % White
  • WCU 79%
  • Belmont 80%
  • % Asian
  • WCU 1%
  • Belmont 2%
  • % Black
  • WCU 6%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • WCU 6%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Native American
  • WCU 1%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WCU 0%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WCU 4%
  • Belmont 4%
  • % International
  • WCU 1%
  • Belmont 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WCU 1%
  • Belmont 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WCU 75%
  • Belmont 35%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WCU 22%
  • Belmont 64%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Western Carolina University is larger than Belmont based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 8,803 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting); Belmont University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Belmont University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Carolina University 16:1; Belmont University 12:1.

WCU vs. Belmont Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or Belmont? 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 Belmont ($13,767 vs. $38,578).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 17.7% lower than at Belmont University ($12,354 vs. $15,010).
  • Belmont University is 818.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $37,910 more per year; $42,540.00 vs. $4,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 392.9% higher at Belmont than at Western Carolina University (about $33,910 more per year; $42,540.00 vs. $8,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Belmont University than at Western Carolina University (93% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Belmont University students is 300.3% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($23,992 vs. $5,993).

WCU vs. Belmont Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Belmont? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Belmont and WCU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Belmont University (1260) is 80 points higher than at WCU (1180).
  • Incoming Belmont students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 22 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Western Carolina University 1080/1270; Belmont University 1160/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Western Carolina University 19/25; Belmont University 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WCU - Test optional; Belmont - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WCU Mar 1, 2027; Belmont Jul 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Belmont students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at WCU (3.44).
  • Belmont has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than WCU (81.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at WCU vs. 17.7% at Belmont.

WCU vs. Belmont Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WCU and Belmont? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Belmont University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Western Carolina University's (50%).
  • Graduates from Belmont University earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Belmont University graduates have a $230 lower median loan debt than WCU graduates ($21,780 vs. $22,010).
  • Among borrowers, Belmont graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WCU graduates ($225 vs. $227).
  • More Belmont graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.