Peace College vs. WCU

Should I go to William Peace University or Western Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Peace College 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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William Peace University vs. Western Carolina University comparison
William Peace University Western Carolina University College 3 College 4
William Peace University Western Carolina University
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Overview

 Peace College WCU
Location Raleigh, NC Cullowhee, NC
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 713 11,635
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #763
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website peace.edu wcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Peace College WCU
Tuition (In State) $32,550 $1,000
Tuition (Out of State) $32,550 $5,000
Room & Board $12,040 $11,173
Avg Net Price $23,041 $13,022
Avg Grant Aid $25,295 $4,526
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Peace College WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,434 17,917
Admitted 906 15,201
Acceptance Rate 63.2% 84.8%
Enrolled % 15% 12.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/27 19/26
SAT Range 1033/1151 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

 Peace College WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Psychology (21%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

 Peace College WCU
Graduation Rate 36% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,000 $39,100
Making Student Loan Payments 49% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $22,010
Median Loan Payment $248 $227

Diversity

 Peace College WCU
% Men 49% 41%
% Women 51% 59%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 45% 79%
% Black 36% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

 Peace College WCU
% In-State 73% 80%
% Out-of-State 27% 18%

Campus

 Peace College WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than Peace College based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 713 students)

Peace College vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Peace College or WCU?

  • William Peace University is 3,155% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($32,550.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 551% higher at Peace College than Western Carolina University ($32,550.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Peace College ($13,022 vs. $23,041)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 7.8% lower than costs at William Peace University ($11,173 vs. $12,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Peace University than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Peace University students is 458.9% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($25,295 vs. $4,526)

Peace College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 164 points higher than at Peace College (868)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Peace College (18)
  • Accepted freshman Peace College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at WCU (3.44)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Peace College (63.2%)

Peace College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Peace College 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 Peace College.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than William Peace University (50% vs. 36%)
  • Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $3,100 more per year than Peace College graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $36,000)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $1,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Peace College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $24,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Peace College graduates. ($227 vs. $248)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Peace College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 49%)

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