Western Carolina University

www.wcu.edu

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2022 Undergraduate Tuition

$1,000

2022 Average Net Price

$13,022

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2022 Acceptance Rate

84.8%

17,917 Applicants

2022 Enrolled Students

11,635

76.5% Full-Time

2022 Graduation Rate

60.6%

1,153 Graduates

About

Western Carolina University is a higher education institution located in Jackson County, NC. In 2022, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Carolina University were General Business Administration & Management (273 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (250 degrees), and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (149 degrees).

In 2022, 3,493 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Carolina University. 59.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 40.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,718 degrees), 10.3 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (265 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Carolina University is $1,000, which is $−22,996 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,996).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Carolina University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 2621 total borrowers.

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2022, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Carolina University is $1,000, which is $22,996 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,996).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $13,022.

In 2022, 96% of undergraduate students attending Western Carolina University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 45% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$1,000

2022 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2022, the cost of tuition at Western Carolina University was $1,000. The cost of tuition at Western Carolina University is $−22,996 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,996).

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

Average Net Price

$13,022

2022 Value

0.459%

1 Year Growth

In 2022 Western Carolina University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,022. Between 2021 and 2022, the average net price of Western Carolina University grew by 0.459%.

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

$11,263

Room and Board

$621

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Carolina University was of $11,263 in 2022. The cost of room and board increased by 1.32% between 2021 and 2022.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $621. The cost of books and supplies increased by 0.812% 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

96%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

45%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

96% of undergraduate students at Western Carolina University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2022. This represents a growth of 41.2% with respect to 2021, 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.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Carolina University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 2621 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 17,917 undergraduate applications in 2022, which represents a 45.6% annual growth. Out of those 17,917 applicants, 15,201 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 84.8% acceptance rate.

There were 11,635 students enrolled at Western Carolina University in 2022. 9% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Carolina University has an overall enrollment yield of 12.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

84.8%

Acceptance Rate in 2022

15,201

Accepted Out of 17,917

In 2022, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Carolina University was 84.8% (15,201 admissions from 17,917 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2021, which was 79.4%. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of applicants grew by 45.6%, while admissions grew by 55.5%.

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

Submission Percentage (2022)

176

Scores Submitted (2022)

9% of enrolled first-time students at Western Carolina University in 2022 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Carolina University had a total enrollment of 11,635 students in 2022. The full-time enrollment at Western Carolina University is 8,896 students and the part-time enrollment is 2,739. This means that 76.5% of students enrolled at Western Carolina University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Carolina University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 76.5% White, 7.66% Hispanic or Latino, 6.38% Black or African American, 3.5% Two or More Races, 1.27% Asian, 0.937% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.129% 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 (33.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.06%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (57.3%), followed by White Male (22.5%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.74%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

76.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Carolina University in 2022, both undergraduate and graduate, is 11,635 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Carolina University is 8,896 and the part-time enrollment is 2,739. This means that 76.5% of students enrolled at Western Carolina University are enrolled full-time compared with 67.6% 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

71%

2022 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 71%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), Western Carolina University had a retention rate lower 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 (2022)

White
8,905 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
891 enrolled students
Black or African American
742 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Carolina University is 76.5% White, 7.66% Hispanic or Latino, 6.38% Black or African American, 3.5% Two or More Races, 1.27% Asian, 0.937% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.129% 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 51.2% White, 17.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 13% 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, 121 students (1.04%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2022, 653 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 (2,718 degrees awarded). There were 10.3 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (265 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Carolina University is General Business Administration & Management (273 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (250 degrees) and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (149 degrees).

In 2022, 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 (209 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (88 degrees), and Engineering Technologies (143 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

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 Elementary & middle school teachers (1,570,568 people), Secondary school teachers (472,544 people), Education administrators (264,916 people), Other managers (199,307 people), and Special education teachers (186,977 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Carolina University in 2022 are Public Administration and Social Service (209 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (88 degrees), Engineering Technologies (143 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (120 degrees), and Education (406 degrees) (as of 2022).

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 Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Western Carolina University are Public Administration and Social Service (209 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (88 degrees), Engineering Technologies (143 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (120 degrees), and Education (406 degrees) (as of 2022).

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 (2,789,115 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (380,658 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (263,732 people), Computer Systems Design (147,817 people), and Individual & family services (144,071 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 (2022)

General Business Administration & Management
273 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
250 degrees awarded
Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
149 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Carolina University was General Business Administration & Management with 273 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

1,420

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2022

2,073

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2022

In 2022, 1,420 degrees were awarded to men at Western Carolina University, which is 0.685 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,073).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2022, 140 degrees were awarded to men at Western Carolina University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.864 times less than the 162 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2022, 254 degrees were awarded to men at Western Carolina University in Registered Nursing, which is 7.26 times more than the 35 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

43%

100% Completion Time

64%

150% Completion Time

In 2022, 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, 64% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 65% 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.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (66.8%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2022 at Western Carolina University is Female and White (66.8% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (73.2%).

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, 0.867% of graduates (10 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2022)

White
2,718 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
265 degrees awarded
Black or African American
189 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Carolina University is white (2,718 degrees awarded). There were 10.3 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (265 degrees).

0.859% of degree recipients (30 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2022)

White Female
1,631 degrees awarded
White Male
1,087 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
141 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Carolina University is white female (1,631 degrees awarded). There were 1.5 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1087 degrees).

Operations

Western Carolina University has an endowment valued at nearly $130M, as of the end of the 2022 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 5.88M (4.52%) compared to the 0.773% average return (360k on 46.6M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2022, Western Carolina University had a total salary expenditure of 267M. Western Carolina University employs 180 Assistant professors, 138 Associate professors and 125 Professors. Most academics at Western Carolina University are Female Assistant professor (100), Male Assistant professor (80), and Male Professor (75).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Carolina University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 186 employees, Service, with 178 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 124 employees.

Endowment

$130M

2022 Endowment

4.65%

growth from 2021

Western Carolina University has an endowment valued at about $130M, as of the end of the 2022 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Carolina University grew 4.65% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $83.5M 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

$107M

2022 Salaries

4.31%

growth from 2021

In 2022, Western Carolina University paid a median of $107M in salaries, which represents 40.3% of their overall expenditure ($267M) and a 4.31% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 0.727% growth between 2020 and 2021, and a 5.43% growth between 2019 and 2020.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 36.1M (39.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$43.6M

Instructional Salaries

549

Number of Employees

In 2022, Western Carolina University paid a total of $43.6M to 549 employees working as instructors, which represents 40.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11.3M (31.2%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Assistant professor

Most Common Instructor

180 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

186 Employees

In 2022, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Carolina University were Assistant professor with 180 employees, Associate professor with 138 employees, and Professor with 125 employees.

In 2022, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Carolina University were Office and Administrative Support with 186 employees, Service with 178 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 124 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2022)

Female Assistant professor
Male Assistant professor
Male Professor

In 2022, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Carolina University was Female Assistant professor with 100 employees, Male Assistant professor with 80 employees, and Male Professor with 75 employees.

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

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