Western Carolina University campus

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WCU Salaries

  • 5/10 Overall Rating
  • 4 Year
  • Cullowhee, NC
  • 4.6 10 reviews
#10 Best Public Universities in North Carolina
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Salaries by Major

Salaries by Major at Western Carolina University

This page shows median first-year earnings for WCU graduates by major, based on federal College Scorecard data. Six years after enrolling, former students who are working and no longer in school report average earnings of $31,300 per year; after ten years, average earnings are $39,100. See post-graduation earnings for full trends over time.

Below, majors are ranked by median first-year earnings.

The highest-paying undergraduate degree is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, with median first-year earnings of $56,100 , followed by Engineering Technology at $53,400 , and Construction Engineering Technologies at $51,500 .

Among graduate and professional degree programs, the highest-paying program is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degree), with median first-year earnings of $98,800 , followed by Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degree) at $65,000 , and Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degree) at $60,100 .

First-year earnings data come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and reflect IRS-reported income for Western Carolina University graduates who received federal grants or loans. Some programs are omitted for privacy.

Median first-year earnings for Western Carolina University graduates ranked by degree type and major
Major Earnings
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degree) $98,800
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degree) $65,000
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degree) $60,100
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor’s Degree) $56,100
Engineering Technology (Bachelor’s Degree) $53,400
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degree) $53,200
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor’s Degree) $51,500
Computer Science (Bachelor’s Degree) $50,600
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degree) $50,200
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degree) $50,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) $49,600
Public Administration (Bachelor’s Degree) $48,300
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor’s Degree) $45,800
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degree) $44,400
Social Work (Master's Degree) $43,100
Public Administration (Master's Degree) $42,900
Education (Master's Degree) $39,400
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $39,200
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $39,000
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $38,200
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor’s Degree) $37,300
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor’s Degree) $35,700
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degree) $35,500
Mathematics (Bachelor’s Degree) $34,400
Marketing (Bachelor’s Degree) $34,200
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,000
Music (Bachelor’s Degree) $32,300
Natural Resources Management and Policy (Bachelor’s Degree) $30,100
Social Work (Bachelor’s Degree) $29,600
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor’s Degree) $29,400
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management (Bachelor’s Degree) $28,800
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Bachelor’s Degree) $28,500
Hospitality Administration/Management (Bachelor’s Degree) $28,400
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor’s Degree) $27,500
Biology (Bachelor’s Degree) $26,500
Anthropology (Bachelor’s Degree) $26,500
Sociology (Bachelor’s Degree) $24,700
History (Bachelor’s Degree) $24,200
Psychology (Bachelor’s Degree) $23,900
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor’s Degree) $23,600
English Language and Literature (Bachelor’s Degree) $21,700
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor’s Degree) $20,600
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $20,300
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor’s Degree) $19,700

Other Colleges to Consider

Students considering Western Carolina University often consider these colleges

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=200004.

First-year earnings by major: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Last updated: August 2026