Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina. 10,024 undergraduates. Admits 82% of applicants.
Graduates' median debt ($19,500) equals 36% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($53,764).
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.
Do students finish, and what do they earn?
| Measure | This college | Similar colleges nationally |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 61% | 54% |
| Return for second year | 79% | 76% |
| Median earnings, 6 years after starting | $46,593 | $49,318 |
| Median earnings, 10 years after starting | $53,764 | $58,912 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 | $21,609 |
Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).
Programs and what graduates earn
89 programs reported| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 49 | $58,407 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 0 | $51,644 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 2 | — | — | — |
| Statistics | 3 | — | — | — |
| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | $209,047 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 16 | $86,083 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | $71,587 | $73,588 | — |
| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 3 | — | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 47 | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 17 | — | — | — |
| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 1 | — | — | — |
| History | 2 | — | — | — |
Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.
Getting in
Similar colleges in North Carolina
Quick answers
- How much does Western Carolina University cost per year?
- The average net price at Western Carolina University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $13,025 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- How much do Western Carolina University graduates earn?
- Former Western Carolina University students earn a median of $53,764 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- What is the graduation rate at Western Carolina University?
- 61% of Western Carolina University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- How much student debt do Western Carolina University graduates have?
- The median federal student debt at graduation from Western Carolina University is $19,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
