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ECU ASU MSU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU CU Boulder UNCG NC State Colorado State Utah State University| Western Carolina University | University of Wyoming | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WCU | UW | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Laramie, WY | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 11,635 | 11,100 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | #331 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | uwyo.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | UW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $4,800 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $19,950 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,173 | $11,610 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,022 | $12,819 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,526 | $8,942 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 94% |
Admission |
WCU | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,917 | 5,797 | ||
| Admitted | 15,201 | 5,564 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.8% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.7% | 29.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | 1040/1240 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Mar 1, 2025 | Aug 10, 2025 |
Academics |
WCU | UW | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | UW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $51,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $18,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $191 |
Diversity |
WCU | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 7% |
Students |
WCU | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 56% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 40% | ||
Campus |
WCU | UW | ||
| 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 UW based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 11,100 students)
WCU vs. UW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or UW?
- University of Wyoming is 380% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($4,800.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 299% higher at UW than Western Carolina University ($19,950.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wyoming than WCU ($12,819 vs. $13,022)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 3.9% lower than costs at University of Wyoming ($11,173 vs. $11,610)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than University of Wyoming (99% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wyoming students is 97.6% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($8,942 vs. $4,526)
WCU vs. UW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or UW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW or WCU .
- The average SAT score at University of Wyoming (1122) is 90 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming UW students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman UW students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at WCU (3.44)
- UW has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than WCU (84.8%)
WCU vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or UW? 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 UW and WCU.
- The graduation rate at UW is higher than Western Carolina University (53% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from University of Wyoming earn on average $12,300 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $39,100)
- University of Wyoming students graduate with a $3,510 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($18,500 vs. $22,010)
- UW graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($191 vs. $227)
- More UW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/