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ECU ASU CofC UofSC UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU Clemson Winthrop University UNCG NC State| Western Carolina University | Coastal Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | Coastal Carolina | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Conway, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,628 | 10,829 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #742 | #767 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | coastal.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | Coastal Carolina | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $11,460 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $29,448 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,764 | $11,418 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,252 | $14,453 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,442 | $9,939 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 87% |
Admission |
WCU | Coastal Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,183 | 18,223 | ||
| Admitted | 15,758 | 14,613 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.7% | 80.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 19% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 1050/1210 | ||
| 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 | Coastal Carolina | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | Coastal Carolina | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $42,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $24,930 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $257 |
Diversity |
WCU | Coastal Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 3% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 20% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WCU | Coastal Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 31% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 68% | ||
Campus |
WCU | Coastal Carolina | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Coastal Carolina based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 10,829 students)
WCU vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or Coastal Carolina?
- Coastal Carolina University is 1,046% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($11,460.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 489% higher at Coastal Carolina than Western Carolina University ($29,448.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Coastal Carolina ($12,252 vs. $14,453)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 3% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($11,418 vs. $11,764)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Coastal Carolina University (99% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Coastal Carolina University students is 82.6% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($9,939 vs. $5,442)
WCU vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Coastal Carolina? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Coastal Carolina or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 23 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1009)
- Incoming WCU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Coastal Carolina (22)
- Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina 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 Coastal Carolina (80.2%)
WCU vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and WCU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Coastal Carolina University (50% vs. 46%)
- Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn on average $3,100 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $2,920 lower median federal student loan debt than Coastal Carolina graduates. ($22,010 vs. $24,930)
- WCU graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Coastal Carolina graduates. ($227 vs. $257)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/