Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Western Carolina University is a public national university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Western Carolina University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Western Carolina University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $43,366 10 years after enrolling, 21st in North Carolina, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Western Carolina University bachelor students earn 4% less than the national average. Western Carolina University is ranked 13th in North Carolina.
Western Carolina University’s median net annual cost of $13,924 and average years to graduate of 4.5 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Western Carolina University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Registered Nursing, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Education, Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$13,924
Average years to graduate
4.5
Public Administration
Rank: #8
Economic score: 2.04
Accounting
Rank: #317
Economic score: 2.92
Marketing
Rank: #164
Economic score: 3.27
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #69
Economic score: 3.81
Anthropology
Rank: #26
Economic score: 5.45
Chemistry
Rank: #150
Economic score: 6.8
Biology
Rank: #336
Economic score: 6.98
Parks & Recreation Mgmt.
Rank: #33
Economic score: 12.22
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #216
Economic score: 17.31
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #97
Economic score: 274.08
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Western Carolina University - Business Administration, Social Work, Registered Nursing, Education, General, Student Counseling, Health Administrative Services - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Educ. Administration
Rank: #29
Economic score: 0.23
HR Management
Rank: #12
Economic score: 0.26
Accounting
Rank: #191
Economic score: 0.38
Public Administration
Rank: #50
Economic score: 0.46
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #135
Economic score: 0.82
Psychology
Rank: #274
Economic score: 2.02
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.5 years. 65% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Western Carolina University is 9% higher than the state average, and 2% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Western Carolina University, Pell Grant recipients represent 35% of the measured graduating class, equal to the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Western Carolina University graduates within 4.6 years.
Western Carolina University is in the top 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Western Carolina University’s economic mobility score of 24.71 is calculated by adjusting the 2.43 economic score of lower-income students by the 35% pell grant recipients within the student body. Western Carolina University’s EMS of 24.71 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Western Carolina University pays $13,924 a year, $4,950 less than the $18,874 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $13,924
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Western Carolina University, 73% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $13,924 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 57% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,242. This is 3% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,850
Pell grants
$4,590
State grants
$1,886
Institutional grants
$2,310
Western Carolina University offers 8 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Western Carolina University offers 11 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
19
Percentage of programs online
20%
Western Carolina University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 79% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 12,308 applicants, of which 9,775 were admitted and 1,729 enrolled. Western Carolina University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
83%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
57%
59%
In-state
83%
68%
1st generation
33%
35%
White
78%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
8%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
6%
12%