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UofSC ECU ASU Clemson Coastal Carolina CSU Elon UNC Charlotte UNCW USC Beaufort Furman University of North Carolina at Asheville| Western Carolina University | College of Charleston | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | CofC | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Charleston, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,635 | 10,885 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | #428 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | cofc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | CofC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $12,518 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $35,338 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,173 | $12,986 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,022 | $21,120 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,526 | $9,499 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
WCU | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,917 | 22,020 | ||
| Admitted | 15,201 | 16,666 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.8% | 75.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.7% | 13.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.94 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | 1130/1300 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
WCU | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | CofC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $46,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $222 |
Diversity |
WCU | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WCU | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 44% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 54% | ||
Campus |
WCU | CofC | ||
| 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 CofC based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 10,885 students)
WCU vs. CofC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or CofC?
- College of Charleston is 1,151.8% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($12,518.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 606.8% higher at CofC than Western Carolina University ($35,338.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than CofC ($13,022 vs. $21,120)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 16.2% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($11,173 vs. $12,986)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of Charleston than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of Charleston students is 109.9% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($9,499 vs. $4,526)
WCU vs. CofC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or CofC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CofC or WCU .
- The average SAT score at College of Charleston (1141) is 109 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming CofC students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than CofC (75.7%)
WCU vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or CofC? 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 CofC and WCU.
- The graduation rate at CofC is higher than Western Carolina University (63% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from College of Charleston earn on average $7,100 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $39,100)
- College of Charleston students graduate with a $510 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,010)
- CofC graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($222 vs. $227)
- More CofC 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/