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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU GS| Western Carolina University | Presbyterian College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | PC | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Clinton, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 11,635 | 1,199 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | #333 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | presby.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | PC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $38,990 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $38,990 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,173 | $11,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,022 | $21,571 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,526 | $34,379 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
WCU | PC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,917 | 3,329 | ||
| Admitted | 15,201 | 1,977 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.8% | 59.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.7% | 13.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.6 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | 1020/1270 | ||
| 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 | Sep 21, 2024 |
Academics |
WCU | PC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | PC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $47,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $26,108 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $269 |
Diversity |
WCU | PC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 43% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 57% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WCU | PC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 46% | ||
Campus |
WCU | PC | ||
| 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 PC based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,199 students)
WCU vs. PC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or PC?
- Presbyterian College is 3,799% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($38,990.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 679.8% higher at PC than Western Carolina University ($38,990.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than PC ($13,022 vs. $21,571)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 1.1% lower than costs at Presbyterian College ($11,173 vs. $11,300)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Presbyterian College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Presbyterian College students is 659.6% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($34,379 vs. $4,526)
WCU vs. PC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or PC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PC or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Presbyterian College (1082) is 50 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming PC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman PC students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than PC (59.4%)
WCU vs. PC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or PC? 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 PC and WCU.
- The graduation rate at PC is higher than Western Carolina University (68% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Presbyterian College earn on average $8,600 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($47,700 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,098 lower median federal student loan debt than PC graduates. ($22,010 vs. $26,108)
- WCU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than PC graduates. ($227 vs. $269)
- More PC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/