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ECU ASU Miami Ohio State Kent State UC Wright State UNC Charlotte UNCW WVU University of North Carolina at Asheville BGSU| Western Carolina University | Ohio University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | Ohio University | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Athens, OH | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 11,628 | 24,937 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #742 | #498 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | ohio.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | Ohio University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $13,746 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $24,114 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,764 | $13,594 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,252 | $20,550 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,442 | $8,616 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 93% |
Admission |
WCU | Ohio University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,183 | 25,648 | ||
| Admitted | 15,758 | 21,739 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.7% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 21.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.59 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 1100/1290 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
WCU | Ohio University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | Ohio University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $44,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 51% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $211 |
Diversity |
WCU | Ohio University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WCU | Ohio University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 13% | ||
Campus |
WCU | Ohio University | ||
| 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
- Ohio University Main Campus is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (24,937 students vs. 11,628 students)
WCU vs. Ohio University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or Ohio University?
- Ohio University Main Campus is 1,274.6% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($13,746.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 382.3% higher at Ohio University than Western Carolina University ($24,114.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Ohio University ($12,252 vs. $20,550)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 15.6% lower than costs at Ohio University Main Campus ($11,764 vs. $13,594)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Ohio University Main Campus (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio University Main Campus students is 58.3% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($8,616 vs. $5,442)
WCU vs. Ohio University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Ohio University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Ohio University or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Ohio University Main Campus (1108) is 76 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming Ohio University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman Ohio University students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Ohio University (84.8%)
WCU vs. Ohio University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or Ohio University? 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 Ohio University and WCU.
- The graduation rate at Ohio University is higher than Western Carolina University (65% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Ohio University Main Campus earn on average $5,400 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($44,500 vs. $39,100)
- Ohio University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,510 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,010)
- Ohio University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($211 vs. $227)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio University students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/