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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 USC Beaufort ASU| Western Carolina University | University of South Carolina Aiken | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | USC Aiken | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Aiken, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 11,628 | 3,855 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #742 | #883 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | usca.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | USC Aiken | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $10,398 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $20,856 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,764 | $8,736 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,252 | $11,697 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,442 | $9,701 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
WCU | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,183 | 2,905 | ||
| Admitted | 15,758 | 2,316 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.7% | 79.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 26.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 970/1200 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WCU | USC Aiken | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | USC Aiken | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 41% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $39,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $268 |
Diversity |
WCU | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 27% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
WCU | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 11% | ||
Campus |
WCU | USC Aiken | ||
| 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 USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 3,855 students)
WCU vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or USC Aiken?
- University of South Carolina Aiken is 939.8% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($10,398.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 317.1% higher at USC Aiken than Western Carolina University ($20,856.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than WCU ($11,697 vs. $12,252)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 34.7% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($8,736 vs. $11,764)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than University of South Carolina Aiken (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students is 78.3% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($9,701 vs. $5,442)
WCU vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or USC Aiken? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC Aiken or WCU .
- The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 56 points higher than at USC Aiken (976)
- Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at USC Aiken (21)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than USC Aiken (79.7%)
WCU vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and WCU.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (50% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn on average $500 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($39,600 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $3,990 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($22,010 vs. $26,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($227 vs. $268)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Aiken students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/