About Western Carolina University

Founded in 1889, Western Carolina University. is a Public college. Located in North Carolina, which is a city setting in North Carolina, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 9,171 full time undergraduate students, and 1,634 full time graduate students.

The Western Carolina University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 17:1. There are 473 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Western Carolina University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate40%
Application Deadline
Application Fee65
SAT Range910-1120
ACT Range20-25

Admissions at WCU are considered More Selective, with ,56% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 11 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

79% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 40% were in the top quarter, and 15% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Western Carolina University.

2%
“We”re apathetic”
21%
“We know about current events and vote”
69%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
3%
“We save it for the classroom”
18%
“Sometimes, but not often”
59%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
20%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
5%
“I only go out in groups”
37%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
58%
“I feel extremely safe”
20%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
22%
“We bought the gear”
58%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
6%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
48%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
45%
“We”re a very artistic group”
3%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
66%
“They keep regular office hours”
31%
“They”re always available”
3%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
21%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
75%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
8%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
23%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
40%
“We only party on weekends”
29%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
65%
“There might be people who do”
21%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
6%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
2%
“We”re apathetic”
21%
“We know about current events and vote”
69%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
3%
“We save it for the classroom”
18%
“Sometimes, but not often”
59%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
20%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
5%
“I only go out in groups”
37%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
58%
“I feel extremely safe”
20%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
22%
“We bought the gear”
58%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
6%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
48%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
45%
“We”re a very artistic group”
3%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
66%
“They keep regular office hours”
31%
“They”re always available”
3%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
21%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
75%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
8%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
23%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
40%
“We only party on weekends”
29%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
65%
“There might be people who do”
21%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
6%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    127 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    88 Students rated off-campus housing 3.7 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    128 Students rated campus food 3.2 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    129 Students rated campus facilities 4.3 stars. 44 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    129 Students rated class size 4.5 stars. 64 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    128 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 44 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    129 Students rated local services 3.5 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    129 Students rated academics 4.4 stars. 54 % gave the school a 5.0.

Western Carolina University REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of Western Carolina University?

85 Students rated Western Carolina University

Chase - 11/20/2024

Western Carolina University is a great school! I love the campus size and they really go out of their way to make the grounds look amazing year-round. Football games and the marching band are certainly at the top of the list of highlights, but the academics shouldn't be overlooked. The classrooms, and the technology within them, are updated regularly. I have nothing bad to say or to complain about!

Adahlyn - 07/20/2024

Home away from home. I have loved my time so far at WCU. It has the feel of a large/major university, but with the intimacy of smaller schools. The professors are available for conversations and help and class sizes are ideal. The campus is beautiful and there is a lot going on to get involved in.

Bethany Shopland - 05/24/2024

Scenic school in the mountains that is very pretty. I like the small class sizes and have never been in a room with more than forty other students. Despite being isolated in the mountains, there are many abroad connections and I went with the marching band to march in Ireland. There is a body farm nearby for those interested in the anthropology program. I hear the teaching programs are also good which is the focus the school originally started on. I only had one incident where I walked outside of the campus and a couple of guys tried to lure me to their car. The only complaint I have is the freshmen each year and how the freshmen are treated. I did not like having to park my car on the opposite side of campus from where I lived, but I do not think freshmen should be liked either especially when most of them are annoying and at least one of them keeps trying to burn down bathrooms in their residence. But I assume arson is a common crime found on campuses similarly to finding drug cases. I recommend just not doing anything illegal and show up to get a degree and then get out.

Andrew - 05/12/2024

WCU is a good school for people who enjoy the outdoors and are focused on their studies, because there is not much to do off campus, especially if you don't have a car. The student are friendly and there is a lot of variety within the campus. The academics are good and I feel safe within campus limits.

Western Carolina University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Western Carolina University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Western Carolina University is 40%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I think that students should pick the school that they will be happiest at. It will be difficult to be successful in a place where you are not comfortable or happy. Things such as what you will be studying and overall campus envirnment should be taken seriously as well. Schools that do not specialize in certain areas can still offer good programs but if you want to do something like engineering you should look at schools that have good programs. Students should take the oppertunity to visit several different colleges and get an overall feeling about the campus. Something else important is how far away the school is from home. If you are not comfortable not being able to drive home on the weekends then you are going to be miserable stuck on campus. Just remember that college is a once in a lifetime experience and you should do the research so you can make sure it is a good one.

    Read all 122 answers

  3. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    The only people that should not attend Western Carolina is a person who doesn't want to learn. College is a lot of hard work, but fun when taken seriously.

    Read all 31 answers

  4. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    That there wasnt really much to do in the surrounding area

    Read all 26 answers

  5. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Western Carolina University is a wonderful college that focuses on the students and has outstanding faculty and staff, wonderful academics, and a diverse variety of activities to accomadate every student.

    Read all 24 answers

  6. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    If you don't have a car you have to plan your shopping trips with your friends. Oh and you have to buy a meal plan and health insurance. Those are really expensive

    Read all 21 answers

  7. What's unique about your campus?

    the friendly enviroment. every one seemed to know each other

    Read all 18 answers

  8. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    I brag about how great my professors have been. The genuinely care about the success of their students and they have been such a tremendous help in times of need.

    Read all 17 answers

  9. Describe the students at your school.

    fund and friendly

    Read all 16 answers

  10. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    it is a beautiful atmosphere to go to school in

    Read all 15 answers

  11. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    I would say that the most frustrating thing is budget cuts. I understand this is the entire state but I feel it is unfair. I'm very concerned that the classes I need for graduation will not be offered in the semester I need them due to these budget cuts. It has already affected other classmates of mine and I can not financially go any longer than one more year. I feel it is very unfair to us students

    Read all 15 answers

  12. What kind of person should attend this school?

    I think this is a great school for anyone looking to further their education.

    Read all 14 answers

  13. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    The location and the people are so unique. No one will ever be able to replicate what we have at WCU. We experience all four seasons, there's great hiking/kayaking/rafting/etc so close, and we're minutes from Asheville. It's more than just college, it's an experience, a way of life.

    Read all 12 answers

  14. What are the academics like at your school?

    Most professors at WCU definitely go above and beyond in dealing with students. All of my professors know my name and in fact I usually end up taking more than one class with professors. I major in English with a concentration in Film Studies and I love the department since I've declared my major I have gotten to know (and become friends with) more people in the department and get to know the a lot of the department's professors. I am actually very interactive with my academic advisor because I have taken more than one of her classes.

    Read all 2 answers

  15. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    I love WCU. I went to visit a lot of schools before choosing Western, but I am more than a little happy with my decision. The size of the college is perfect you can still meet a new person everyday but not feel like there's so many people you get lost in the crowd. We have a lot of really great professors who are more than willing to work with you. Plus, we're in a definite college town so the places around us really cater to the students. Also, our band is pretty amazing they are "the pride of the mountains." Its really easy to feel at home at Western Carolina University.

    Read all 1 answers

Student Body

Students

55%

female

45%

male

9,171

Total Undergrad Enrollment

1,634

Total Grad Students

8%

Out-Of-State

92%

In-State

N/A

International

Organizations

149

Student Organizations

14

Fraternities

9

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

43%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
1%
% Asian/Pacific Islander
1%
% Black or African-American
7%
% Hispanic/Latino
6%
% White or Caucasian
78%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

85% of students attending Western Carolina University receive some sort of financial aid. 40% were awarded federal grants. While 64% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$17,130

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$2,151

Books and Supplies

$9,516

Room and Board

28,797

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$9,932
$30 - $48K
$11,506
$48 - $75K
$15,377
$75 - $110K
$18,446
$110K & UP
$19,411

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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