Public · Not ranked by US News
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Figures on this page come from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data. This school has not been individually reviewed, so there is no ranking, aid-policy, or GPA guidance below.
What it may cost by family income
Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $23,992 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.
| Household income | Est. net price / year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $8,816 |
| $30k–$48k | $10,012 |
| $48k–$75k | $12,605 |
| $75k–$110k | $17,060 |
| Over $110k | $17,992 |
Sticker cost of attendance: $23,992 (out-of-state) · $19,992 in-state.
What the whole degree costs
Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.
| Household income | 4 yrs, today's prices | 4 yrs with increases |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $35,264 | $37,159 |
| $30k–$48k | $40,048 | $42,200 |
| $48k–$75k | $50,420 | $53,129 |
| $75k–$110k | $68,240 | $71,907 |
| Over $110k | $71,968 | $75,835 |
60% of students here graduate within six years. If the degree takes a fifth year, budget roughly one more year at the prices above — ask the school what share of students finish in four.
First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask Western Carolina University how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.
Applying to a specific major at Western Carolina University
82% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.
To find the real figure for your major, check Western Carolina University's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.
At Western Carolina University: 238 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $57,318 median earnings (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.)
Clinical placement requirements hard-cap how many students a nursing program can take, which routinely makes direct-entry nursing among the most selective programs on a campus.
Check: Whether the program is direct-entry or requires applying again in sophomore year, and how many seats it takes per cohort.
At Western Carolina University: 490 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $34,126 median earnings (Business Administration, Management and Operations.)
Many undergraduate business schools admit their own cohort at application time and are more selective than the university overall; others admit only after two years of coursework.
Check: Whether the business school is direct-admit for first-years, and if not, what GPA the internal application actually requires.
Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at Western Carolina University in computer science, engineering, architecture or visual & performing arts, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.
What graduates earn, by major
Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of Western Carolina University, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.
| Major | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. · Business | $34,126 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. · Nursing | $57,318 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $36,720 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $35,615 | — |
| Marketing. · Business | $37,896 | — |
| Psychology, General. · Social Sciences | $26,684 | — |
| Public Administration. | $52,107 | — |
| Biology, General. · Biological Sciences | $25,194 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. · Business | $39,369 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. · Other Health Professions | $49,227 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $29,250 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | $37,903 | — |
Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.
Is Western Carolina University a reach, target, or safety for you?
Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.
Model my odds & cost — freeFigures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with Western Carolina University’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.