WestConn vs. WCU

Should I go to Western Connecticut State University or Western Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WestConn or WCU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Western Connecticut State University vs. Western Carolina University comparison
Western Connecticut State University Western Carolina University College 3 College 4
Western Connecticut State University Western Carolina University
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Overview

 WestConn WCU
Location Danbury, CT Cullowhee, NC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,417 11,635
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #466 #763
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcsu.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WestConn WCU
Tuition (In State) $6,464 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $19,358 $5,000
Room & Board $14,568 $11,173
Avg Net Price $15,862 $13,022
Avg Grant Aid $9,057 $4,526
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 99%

Admission

 WestConn WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 17,917
Admitted 4,253 15,201
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 84.8%
Enrolled % 14.8% 12.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.38 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/29 19/26
SAT Range 1010/1230 1020/1240
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

Academics

 WestConn WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 WestConn WCU
Graduation Rate 40% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $258 $227

Diversity

 WestConn WCU
% Men 45% 41%
% Women 55% 59%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 61% 79%
% Black 12% 6%
% Hispanic 18% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 WestConn WCU
% In-State 70% 80%
% Out-of-State 30% 18%

Campus

 WestConn WCU
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 WestConn based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 4,417 students)

WestConn vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WestConn or WCU?

  • Western Connecticut State University is 546.4% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($6,464.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 287.2% higher at WestConn than Western Carolina University ($19,358.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than WestConn ($13,022 vs. $15,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 30.4% lower than costs at Western Connecticut State University ($11,173 vs. $14,568)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Western Connecticut State University (99% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Connecticut State University students is 100.1% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($9,057 vs. $4,526)

WestConn vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WestConn or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or WestConn .

  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at WestConn (3.38)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than WestConn (83.5%)

WestConn vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WestConn or WCU? 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 WCU and WestConn.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Western Connecticut State University (50% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Western Connecticut State University earn on average $8,300 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $2,990 lower median federal student loan debt than WestConn graduates. ($22,010 vs. $25,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than WestConn graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More WestConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/