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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 | Southern Virginia University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | SVU | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Buena Vista, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 11,628 | 967 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #742 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | svu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | SVU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $19,790 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $19,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,764 | $9,376 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,252 | $25,440 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,442 | $7,775 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
WCU | SVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,183 | 1,101 | ||
| Admitted | 15,758 | 1,097 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.7% | 99.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 26.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 943/1253 | ||
| 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 | SVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | SVU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 25% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $40,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $23,654 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $244 |
Diversity |
WCU | SVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 29% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 7% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WCU | SVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 12% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 73% | ||
Campus |
WCU | SVU | ||
| 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 SVU based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 967 students)
WCU vs. SVU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or SVU?
- Southern Virginia University is 1,879% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($19,790.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 295.8% higher at SVU than Western Carolina University ($19,790.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than SVU ($12,252 vs. $25,440)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 25.5% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($9,376 vs. $11,764)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Virginia University than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Virginia University students is 42.9% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($7,775 vs. $5,442)
WCU vs. SVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or SVU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SVU or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Southern Virginia University (1041) is 9 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming SVU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at SVU (3.19)
- SVU has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than WCU (86.7%)
WCU vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or SVU? 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 SVU and WCU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Southern Virginia University (50% vs. 25%)
- Graduates from Southern Virginia University earn on average $1,500 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $1,644 lower median federal student loan debt than SVU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $23,654)
- WCU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than SVU graduates. ($227 vs. $244)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/