WCU vs. URI

Deciding between Western Carolina University and University of Rhode Island? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Western Carolina University
University of Rhode Island

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • WCU Distant Town
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 11,686
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WCU #698
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WCU -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • WCU Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WCU
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WCU $4,630
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WCU $8,630
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • WCU $12,354
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • WCU $13,767
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WCU $5,993
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WCU 81%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WCU 19,742
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • WCU 16,154
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WCU 81.8%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • WCU 12.7%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1180
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 22
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • WCU 3.44
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WCU B+
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WCU Moderate
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • WCU
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • WCU 19/25
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • WCU 1080/1270
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WCU 16:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WCU 50%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WCU $39,100
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WCU 58%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WCU $22,010
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WCU $227
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WCU 41%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • WCU 59%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WCU Low
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • WCU No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • WCU 79%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • WCU 1%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • WCU 6%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • WCU 6%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • WCU 1%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WCU 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WCU 4%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • WCU 1%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WCU 1%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WCU 75%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WCU 22%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WCU Yes
  • URI Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WCU No
  • URI No
  • Meal Plan
  • WCU Yes
  • URI Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WCU No
  • URI No
  • Daycare Facility
  • WCU Yes
  • URI Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC with University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Rhode Island is larger than WCU based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 11,686 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Carolina University 16:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

WCU vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or URI? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than URI ($13,767 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 20.8% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($12,354 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Rhode Island is 265.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $12,312 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $4,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 330.4% higher at URI than at Western Carolina University (about $28,516 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $8,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Western Carolina University (96% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 109.9% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($12,578 vs. $5,993).

WCU vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU or URI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between URI and WCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Carolina University (1180) is 30 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Carolina University 1080/1270; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Carolina University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WCU - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WCU Mar 1, 2027; URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at WCU (3.44).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at WCU vs. 15.4% at URI.

WCU vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WCU and URI? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Western Carolina University's (50%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $17,100 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Carolina University graduates have a $1,428 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($22,010 vs. $23,438).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($227 vs. $242).
  • More URI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.