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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 Wesleyan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | SWU | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Central, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 11,628 | 1,188 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #742 | #1043 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Wesleyan | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | edu. | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | SWU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $26,520 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $26,520 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,764 | $10,654 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,252 | $20,336 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,442 | $18,771 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
WCU | SWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,183 | 472 | ||
| Admitted | 15,758 | 472 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.7% | 100% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 33.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 980/1200 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
WCU | SWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | SWU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $44,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $279 |
Diversity |
WCU | SWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 22% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 28% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
WCU | SWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 41% | ||
Campus |
WCU | SWU | ||
| 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 SWU based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 1,188 students)
WCU vs. SWU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or SWU?
- Southern Wesleyan University is 2,552% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 430.4% higher at SWU than Western Carolina University ($26,520.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than SWU ($12,252 vs. $20,336)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 10.4% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,654 vs. $11,764)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 244.9% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($18,771 vs. $5,442)
WCU vs. SWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or SWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SWU or WCU .
- Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at WCU (3.44)
- SWU has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than WCU (86.7%)
WCU vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or SWU? 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 SWU and WCU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Southern Wesleyan University (50% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $5,700 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/