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ECU ASU CofC UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU| Western Carolina University | Charleston Southern University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | CSU | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Charleston, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,635 | 3,418 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | #918 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | csuniv.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | CSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $29,490 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $29,490 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,173 | $11,250 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,022 | $17,536 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,526 | $26,417 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
WCU | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,917 | 4,967 | ||
| Admitted | 15,201 | 4,309 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.8% | 86.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.7% | 16.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 18/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | 940/1170 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
WCU | CSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | CSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $39,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $279 |
Diversity |
WCU | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 26% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 4% |
Students |
WCU | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 23% | ||
Campus |
WCU | CSU | ||
| 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 CSU based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 3,418 students)
WCU vs. CSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or CSU?
- Charleston Southern University is 2,849% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($29,490.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 489.8% higher at CSU than Western Carolina University ($29,490.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than CSU ($13,022 vs. $17,536)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 0.7% lower than costs at Charleston Southern University ($11,173 vs. $11,250)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University as Charleston Southern University (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 483.7% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($26,417 vs. $4,526)
WCU vs. CSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or CSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSU or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 2 points higher than at CSU (1030)
- Incoming CSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at CSU (3.24)
- CSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than WCU (84.8%)
WCU vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or CSU? 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 CSU and WCU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Charleston Southern University (50% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn on average $700 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($39,800 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/