Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Graduate degree-granting

Western Carolina University is a public institution in Cullowhee, North Carolina, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. With 10,024 students, it is a mid-size institution. Graduates earn a median of $49,458 ten years after enrollment, which is 21% above the national median of $40,747. In terms of completion, the graduation rate is 59.7%. Regarding affordability, median graduate debt is $21,868, yielding an earnings-to-debt ratio of 2.26x. The average net price after financial aid is $13,315 per year. The most popular programs include Business Administration & Management, Registered Nursing, Teacher Education, Criminal Justice & Corrections, and Marketing.

Key Outcomes

Median Earnings (10yr)
$49,458
Graduation Rate
59.7%
Median Debt
$21,868
Average Net Price
$13,315
Earnings-to-Cost Ratio
0.93x
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio
2.26x

Admissions & Enrollment

Total Enrollment
10,024
Admission Rate
81.8%
Average SAT
1157
Retention Rate
79.1%

Cost

In-State Tuition
$4,630
Out-of-State Tuition
$8,630
Pell Grant Rate
34.6%
Federal Loan Rate
44.2%

Net Cost by Family Income

Income $0–$30K
$8,816
Income $30K–$48K
$10,012
Income $48K–$75K
$12,605
Income $110K+
$17,992

Student Demographics

Women
57.3%
White
75.3%
Black
6.7%
Hispanic
8.8%
Asian
1.3%
Two or More Races
4.4%

Student Loan Performance

Repayment Rate (3yr)
59.5%

Accreditations

Programs (87)

Bachelor (51)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Business Administration & Management $57,713 253
Registered Nursing $79,533 238
Teacher Education $47,105 169
Criminal Justice & Corrections $55,903 156
Marketing $56,568 152
Psychology $48,350 148
Health Services Not reported 141
Public Administration $70,331 120
Biology $50,180 85
Finance $58,076 85
Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment $65,010 60
Communications $43,322 58
Secondary Education $48,232 53
Chemistry $51,213 51
Social Work $50,025 50
Construction Engineering Technology $83,954 48
English Language & Literature $45,079 46
Engineering $82,500 45
Accounting $61,346 45
History $42,698 45
Engineering Technology $78,801 44
Fine Arts $43,029 42
Anthropology $45,809 40
Sports & Fitness $50,761 38
Communication Disorders $52,183 38
Management Information Systems $62,128 37
Music $44,014 36
Hospitality Management $49,798 32
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management $41,786 31
Drama & Theater Arts $34,516 30
Natural Resources Conservation $40,831 29
Political Science $52,077 27
Mathematics $59,885 25
Sociology $46,195 25
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions $49,898 25
Natural Resources Management $49,834 23
Design & Applied Arts $58,467 23
Computer Science $86,853 22
Special Education $47,031 19
Radio, Television & Film $43,954 18
Electrical Engineering Not reported 17
Electrical Engineering Technology $79,441 15
Romance Languages $40,744 15
International Studies Not reported 15
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition $53,622 13
Philosophy Not reported 12
Public Health $61,698 10
Geological Sciences Not reported 8
Entrepreneurship Not reported 8
Liberal Arts & Sciences Not reported 6
Security & Protective Services $54,246 Not reported

Master (25)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Social Work $58,911 69
Business Administration & Management $100,807 52
Human Resources Management $77,673 49
Student Counseling and Personnel Services $51,558 41
Registered Nursing $122,811 38
Health Services Administration $63,641 31
Teacher Education Not reported 29
Sports & Fitness $77,046 29
Education $54,249 27
Communication Disorders $56,344 27
Construction Engineering Technology Not reported 25
Public Administration $72,948 22
Educational Administration $68,241 19
Outdoor Education Not reported 17
English Language & Literature $46,104 13
Accounting $75,418 12
Psychology Not reported 10
Marketing $58,995 9
History Not reported 8
Engineering Technology Not reported 7
Biology Not reported 7
Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment Not reported 7
Cognitive Psychology Not reported 4
Chemistry Not reported 3
Bioethics & Medical Ethics $71,161 Not reported

Doctoral (2)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Educational Administration Not reported 14
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions $77,060 Not reported

First Professional (2)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Not reported 46
Registered Nursing Not reported 19

Graduate Certificate (2)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Business Administration & Management Not reported 35
Educational Administration Not reported 12
Show 5 additional programs with limited data
Program Level Completers
History Undergraduate Certificate 2
Ethnic & Gender Studies Graduate Certificate 1
Music Undergraduate Certificate 1
Arts & Entertainment Management Undergraduate Certificate 1
Registered Nursing Graduate Certificate 1

Rankings Featuring This Institution

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