Verified data from IPEDS & College Scorecard

$13,767/yr

Average net price per year, what students actually pay

82% acceptance rate60% graduation rate11,686 undergrads

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC·Public · 4-year

GradFax Verified · Federal IPEDS data, updated July 26, 2026

Overview

This school is accessible, giving a well-prepared applicant a realistic shot. Most students pay far less than the sticker price: the average student receiving aid pays $13,767 a year against a $21,165 list price, a 35% gap.

Western Carolina University is a small-town public four-year institution located in Cullowhee, NC. It enrolls a mid-sized student body of approximately 11,686 undergraduate students. As a public institution, it is supported by state funding and typically offers lower tuition rates for in-state residents.

At a glance

Acceptance rate82%
SAT range1080 - 1270
Graduation rate60%
Enrollment11,686
Student:faculty16:1
Avg net price$13,767
Total cost (sticker)$21,165

Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education.

Admissions

Acceptance rate

82%

SAT range

1080 - 1270

Acceptance rate
82%
SAT range
1080 - 1270
ACT range
19 - 25
Applications
19,742
Academic fit
Admission probability
Students like you
Application tracker
Deadline tracker
Essay prompts

Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.

Academics

Student:faculty

16:1

Avg class size (est.)

~40 students

Student-faculty ratio
16:1
Avg class size (est.)
~40 students
Academic calendar
Semester
Graduation rate
60%
GradFax Outcomes Index
B

Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.

Costs

Sticker price

$21,165

Avg net price after aid

$13,767

Sticker price$21,165
Avg net price after aid$13,767
Tuition (in-state)
$4,630
Tuition (out-of-state)
$8,630
Room & board
$16,535
Total cost of attendance (sticker)
$21,165
Avg net price after aid
$13,767
Net price calculator

Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.

Financial aid

Receiving financial aid

65%

Avg grant aid

$6,267

Receiving financial aid
65%
Pell grant recipients
35%
Avg grant aid
$6,267

Data from College Scorecard, U.S. Dept. of Education.

Student body

Total enrollment
11,686
Institution type
4-year
Control
Public

Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.

Campus life

Food near campus
Housing & living costs
Find off-campus housing

Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.

Location

City, state
Cullowhee, NC
Campus setting
Town: Distant
Distance from home
Cost of living
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Data from IPEDS, U.S. Dept. of Education. Verify current figures with the school.

Graduate programs

Search grad programs →

Detailed graduate program data coming soon.

More about Western Carolina University

21 reported figures shown on this page. Every one is sourced from a federal database, a verified API, or clearly labeled community data.

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Western Carolina University profile on GradFax. Verified data from IPEDS 2024 and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition, acceptance rate, enrollment, graduation rate, campus details, and financial aid data sourced from official government records.