WCU vs. KSU

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

WCU KSU
Location Cullowhee, NC Kennesaw, Georgia
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 11,628
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #742
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcu.edu kennesaw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WCU KSU
Tuition (In State) $1,000 $4,078
Tuition (Out of State) $5,000 $13,796
Room & Board $11,764 $11,467
Avg Net Price $12,252 $15,451
Avg Grant Aid $5,442 $5,161
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 81%

Admission

WCU KSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,183 8,773
Admitted 15,758 5,483
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 62.5%
Enrolled % 13.3% 54.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 21/24
SAT Range 1050/1260 1070/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2026

Academics

WCU KSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

WCU KSU
Graduation Rate 50% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 58% -
Median Student Loan Debt $22,010 N/A
Median Loan Payment $227 N/A

Diversity

WCU KSU
% Men 4% NaN
% Women 10% NaN
Racial Diversity Low -
HBCU No No
% White 79% 0%
% Black 6% 0%
% Hispanic 6% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

WCU KSU
% In-State 78% -
% Out-of-State 19% -

Campus

WCU KSU
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 KSU based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 0 students)

WCU vs. KSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or KSU?

  • Kennesaw State University is 307.8% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($4,078.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 175.9% higher at KSU than Western Carolina University ($13,796.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than KSU ($12,252 vs. $15,451)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kennesaw State University are 2.6% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($11,467 vs. $11,764)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Kennesaw State University (99% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Carolina University students is 5.4% larger than aid received Kennesaw State University ($5,442 vs. $5,161)

WCU vs. KSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at KSU (3.33)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than KSU (62.5%)

WCU vs. KSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Kennesaw State University (50% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/