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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW Randolph-Macon University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU| Western Carolina University | Roanoke College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WCU | Roanoke College | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Salem, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 11,635 | 1,826 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | #419 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | roanoke.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | Roanoke College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $33,510 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $33,510 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,173 | $15,366 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,022 | $29,169 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,526 | $36,176 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
WCU | Roanoke College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,917 | 5,055 | ||
| Admitted | 15,201 | 4,032 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.8% | 79.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.7% | 12.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | 1070/1260 | ||
| 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 | Roanoke College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | Roanoke College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 69% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $51,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $279 |
Diversity |
WCU | Roanoke College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WCU | Roanoke College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 40% | ||
Campus |
WCU | Roanoke College | ||
| 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 Roanoke College based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,826 students)
WCU vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or Roanoke College?
- Roanoke College is 3,251% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($33,510.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 570.2% higher at Roanoke College than Western Carolina University ($33,510.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Roanoke College ($13,022 vs. $29,169)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 37.5% lower than costs at Roanoke College ($11,173 vs. $15,366)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Roanoke College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 699.3% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($36,176 vs. $4,526)
WCU vs. Roanoke College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Roanoke College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Roanoke College or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Roanoke College (1092) is 60 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming Roanoke College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman Roanoke College students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Roanoke College (79.8%)
WCU vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or Roanoke College? 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 Roanoke College and WCU.
- The graduation rate at Roanoke College is higher than Western Carolina University (69% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Roanoke College earn on average $12,100 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($51,200 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Roanoke College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Roanoke College graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
- More Roanoke College 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/