Western Carolina University
PublicCullowhee, NC
Western Carolina University is a public large school in Cullowhee, NC, enrolling about 10,024 undergraduates. Western Carolina University is not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate near 82%. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services graduates, especially in Computer Science, report the strongest earnings here: a median of $86,853/year. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.
Admissions
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Action: Nov 1, 2026
- Regular Decision: Feb 1, 2027
Confirm on Western Carolina University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $4,000 more per year in tuition and fees (1.9x the in-state rate).
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Western Carolina University's numbers?
Check your chances hereSee full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Western Carolina University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is Western Carolina University's acceptance rate?
Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC admits approximately 82% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Western Carolina University?
Admitted students at Western Carolina University typically score between 1080–1270 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for Western Carolina University?
Admitted students at Western Carolina University typically score between 19–25 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does Western Carolina University cost?
Western Carolina University's total cost of attendance is reported at $19,992 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
What is out-of-state tuition at Western Carolina University?
For 2024-25, Western Carolina University's published tuition and required fees were $8,630 for out-of-state students and $4,630 for in-state students -- $4,000 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
When is the application deadline for Western Carolina University?
Western Carolina University's deadlines are Early Action Nov 1, 2026; Regular Decision Feb 1, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Western Carolina University require students to live on campus?
No -- Western Carolina University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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