Western Carolina University

www.wcu.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$1,000

2021 Average Net Price

$13,082

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

2.38%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

79.4%

12,308 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

11,877

77.2% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

61.4%

994 Graduates

About

Western Carolina University is a higher education institution located in Jackson County, NC. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Carolina University were General Business Administration & Management (242 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (167 degrees), and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (157 degrees).

In 2021, 3,186 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Carolina University. 58.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 41.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,559 degrees), 12.6 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (203 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Carolina University is $1,000, which is $−22,184 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Carolina University is $1,000, which is $−22,184 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $13,082.

In 2021, 68% of undergraduate students attending Western Carolina University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 49% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$1,000

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Western Carolina University was $1,000. The cost of tuition at Western Carolina University is $−22,184 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Western Carolina University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$13,082

2021 Value

1.05%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Western Carolina University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,082. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Western Carolina University grew by 1.05%.

This chart compares the average net price of Western Carolina University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$11,116

Room and Board

$616

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Carolina University was of $11,116 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 1.53% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $616. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 41.8% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Western Carolina University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

68%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

49%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

68% of undergraduate students at Western Carolina University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2020, when 68% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Western Carolina University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2.38%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Western Carolina University was 2.38%, which represents 65 out of the 2729 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Western Carolina University received 12,308 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 18.1% annual growth. Out of those 12,308 applicants, 9,775 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 79.4% acceptance rate.

There were 11,877 students enrolled at Western Carolina University in 2021. 12% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Carolina University has an overall enrollment yield of 17.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

79.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

9,775

Accepted Out of 12,308

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Carolina University was 79.4% (9,775 admissions from 12,308 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 48.5%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 18.1%, while admissions grew by 34.1%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Carolina University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

12%

Submission Percentage (2021)

205

Scores Submitted (2021)

12% of enrolled first-time students at Western Carolina University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Carolina University had a total enrollment of 11,877 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Western Carolina University is 9,165 students and the part-time enrollment is 2,712. This means that 77.2% of students enrolled at Western Carolina University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Carolina University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 77.7% White, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.08% Black or African American, 3.26% Two or More Races, 1.33% Asian, 0.977% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0842% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Carolina University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (43%), followed by White Male (34.6%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.59%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (57.2%), followed by White Male (24%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.61%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

77.2%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Carolina University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 11,877 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Carolina University is 9,165 and the part-time enrollment is 2,712. This means that 77.2% of students enrolled at Western Carolina University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.3% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Western Carolina University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

75%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Western Carolina University was 75%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), Western Carolina University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Western Carolina University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
9,224 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
891 enrolled students
Black or African American
722 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Carolina University is 77.7% White, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.08% Black or African American, 3.26% Two or More Races, 1.33% Asian, 0.977% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0842% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 52% White, 16.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.8% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 163 students (1.37%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 566 more women than men received degrees from Western Carolina University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Western Carolina University is white (2,559 degrees awarded). There were 12.6 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (203 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Carolina University is General Business Administration & Management (242 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (167 degrees) and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (157 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Western Carolina University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Public Administration and Social Service (181 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (145 degrees), and Physical Sciences (70 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Carolina University are Other managers (153,437 people), Social workers, all other (146,941 people), Postsecondary teachers (101,108 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (80,205 people), and Physicians (76,923 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Carolina University in 2021 are Public Administration and Social Service (181 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (145 degrees), Physical Sciences (70 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (41 degrees), and Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (99 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Carolina University are Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Surgeons, Physicians, Aircraft pilots & flight engineers, and Chief executives & legislators

The most specialized majors at Western Carolina University are Public Administration and Social Service (181 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (145 degrees), Physical Sciences (70 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (41 degrees), and Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (99 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Carolina University are Elementary & secondary schools (218,860 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (216,988 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (182,962 people), Computer Systems Design (115,929 people), and Individual & family services (101,901 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Western Carolina University.

Most Common (2021)

General Business Administration & Management
242 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
167 degree-majors awarded
Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
157 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Carolina University was General Business Administration & Management with 242 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Western Carolina University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,310

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

1,876

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 1,310 degrees were awarded to men at Western Carolina University, which is 0.698 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,876).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Western Carolina University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 137 degrees were awarded to men at Western Carolina University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.06 times more than the 129 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 176 degrees were awarded to men at Western Carolina University in Registered Nursing, which is 4.89 times more than the 36 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

43%

100% Completion Time

62%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 43% of students graduating from Western Carolina University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 62% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 63% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (72.7%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Western Carolina University is Female and Asian (72.7% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 0.503% of graduates (5 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
2,559 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
203 degrees awarded
Black or African American
164 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Carolina University is white (2,559 degrees awarded). There were 12.6 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (203 degrees).

0.91% of degree recipients (29 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
1,495 degrees awarded
White Male
1,064 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
123 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Carolina University is white female (1,495 degrees awarded). There were 1.41 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1064 degrees).

Operations

Western Carolina University has an endowment valued at nearly $124M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 38M (30.6%) compared to the 13.1% average return (6.61M on 50.4M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2021, Western Carolina University had a total salary expenditure of 254M. Western Carolina University employs 208 Assistant professors, 133 Associate professors and 115 Professors. Most academics at Western Carolina University are Female Assistant professor (120), Male Assistant professor (88), and Male Professor (75).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Carolina University are: Service, with 174 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 172 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 130 employees.

Endowment

$124M

2021 Endowment

37.2%

growth from 2020

Western Carolina University has an endowment valued at about $124M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Carolina University grew 37.2% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $73.9M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Western Carolina University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$103M

2021 Salaries

0.727%

growth from 2020

In 2021, Western Carolina University paid a median of $103M in salaries, which represents 40.5% of their overall expenditure ($254M) and a 0.727% growth from the previous year.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 35.1M (41.3% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$40.1M

Instructional Salaries

548

Number of Employees

In 2021, Western Carolina University paid a total of $40.1M to 548 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.9% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11M (31.3%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Assistant professor

Most Common Instructor

208 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

174 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Carolina University were Assistant professor with 208 employees, Associate professor with 133 employees, and Professor with 115 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Carolina University were Service with 174 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 172 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 130 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Female Assistant professor
Male Assistant professor
Male Professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Carolina University was Female Assistant professor with 120 employees, Male Assistant professor with 88 employees, and Male Professor with 75 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Western Carolina University.