US CollegesGetting in
Western Carolina University admits 82% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1157 out of 1600 (midpoints: 580 in reading and writing, 565 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 22 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from North Carolina | $4,685 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $8,685 |
| Room and meals on campus | $12,535 |
| Books and supplies | $1,592 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $21,165 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $13,025 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 22% below the median net price of colleges in North Carolina on this site ($16,597). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $10,446 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $8,629 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $10,322 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,350 |
| Above $110,000 | $18,389 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | NC median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 79% | 72% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 61% | 45% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $53,764 | $46,097 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $19,500 | $21,590 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in North Carolina and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
39% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 44% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 58% women and 42% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 10 of the 95 colleges in North Carolina on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,276.
Other colleges in North Carolina of a similar size
- North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, public
- Elon UniversityElon, private nonprofit
- Duke UniversityDurham, private nonprofit
- North Carolina Central UniversityDurham, public
- University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, public
- Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Western Carolina University?
Western Carolina University admits 82% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Western Carolina University?
Published tuition and fees are $4,685 a year for students from North Carolina and $8,685 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Western Carolina University?
61% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.