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ECU ASU UTC Middle Tennessee State University UNC Charlotte UNCW Tennessee University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State Memphis| Western Carolina University | Tennessee Technological University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WCU | Tennessee Tech | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Cookeville, TN | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 11,628 | 10,117 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #742 | #584 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | tntech.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | Tennessee Tech | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $8,764 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $18,796 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,764 | $10,502 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,252 | $15,138 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,442 | $10,214 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 95% |
Admission |
WCU | Tennessee Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,183 | 8,772 | ||
| Admitted | 15,758 | 7,295 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.7% | 83.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 27.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.63 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 1020/1250 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
WCU | Tennessee Tech | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | Tennessee Tech | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $43,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $16,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $165 |
Diversity |
WCU | Tennessee Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 81% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
WCU | Tennessee Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 6% | ||
Campus |
WCU | Tennessee Tech | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Tennessee Tech based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 10,117 students)
WCU vs. Tennessee Tech Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or Tennessee Tech?
- Tennessee Technological University is 776.4% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($8,764.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 275.9% higher at Tennessee Tech than Western Carolina University ($18,796.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Tennessee Tech ($12,252 vs. $15,138)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee Technological University are 12% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,502 vs. $11,764)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Tennessee Technological University (99% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee Technological University students is 87.7% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($10,214 vs. $5,442)
WCU vs. Tennessee Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Tennessee Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee Tech or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Tennessee Technological University (1102) is 70 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming Tennessee Tech students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman Tennessee Tech students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Tennessee Tech (83.2%)
WCU vs. Tennessee Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or Tennessee Tech? 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 Tennessee Tech and WCU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is the same as at Tennessee Technological University (50% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Tennessee Technological University earn on average $4,300 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $39,100)
- Tennessee Technological University students graduate with a $6,010 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($16,000 vs. $22,010)
- Tennessee Tech graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($165 vs. $227)
- More Tennessee Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/