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Belmont ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW Samford University University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State Harding University Union University| Western Carolina University | Lipscomb University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WCU | Lipscomb | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Nashville, TN | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,635 | 4,704 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | #279 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Churches of Christ | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | lipscomb.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | Lipscomb | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $34,304 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $34,304 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,173 | $14,036 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,022 | $27,937 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,526 | $24,404 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
WCU | Lipscomb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,917 | 3,705 | ||
| Admitted | 15,201 | 2,635 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.8% | 71.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.7% | 26.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 23/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | 1130/1320 | ||
| 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 | Lipscomb | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | Lipscomb | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $46,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $211 |
Diversity |
WCU | Lipscomb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 35% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 65% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
WCU | Lipscomb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 44% | ||
Campus |
WCU | Lipscomb | ||
| 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 Lipscomb based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 4,704 students)
WCU vs. Lipscomb Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or Lipscomb?
- Lipscomb University is 3,330.4% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($34,304.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 586.1% higher at Lipscomb than Western Carolina University ($34,304.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Lipscomb ($13,022 vs. $27,937)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 25.6% lower than costs at Lipscomb University ($11,173 vs. $14,036)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lipscomb University than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lipscomb University students is 439.2% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($24,404 vs. $4,526)
WCU vs. Lipscomb Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Lipscomb? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lipscomb or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Lipscomb University (1176) is 144 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming Lipscomb students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman Lipscomb students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Lipscomb (71.1%)
WCU vs. Lipscomb Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or Lipscomb? 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 Lipscomb and WCU.
- The graduation rate at Lipscomb is higher than Western Carolina University (63% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Lipscomb University earn on average $7,800 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($46,900 vs. $39,100)
- Lipscomb University students graduate with a $1,510 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,010)
- Lipscomb graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($211 vs. $227)
- More Lipscomb graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/