University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) vs Western Carolina University (WCU)

Nestled in the heart of North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and Western Carolina University (WCU) stand as two distinct academic havens, each offering a unique educational experience. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. UNCG, located in the vibrant city of Greensboro, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, providing a diverse and inclusive learning environment. WCU, situated in the picturesque town of Cullowhee, offers a more intimate campus experience with smaller class sizes and a focus on outdoor recreation. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro logo

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Western Carolina University logo

Western Carolina University

Overview

Location Greensboro, North Carolina Cullowhee, North Carolina
Campus setting City: Large Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 78.0% 75.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 90.8% 79.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1095 - 1260 1060 - 1230
ACT range 21 - 26 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 6.0% 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 18.0% 43.0%
Total number of applicants 10,696 12,308
Total number of admissions given out 9,716 9,775
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,543 1,729
Yield rate 26.2% 17.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $20,738

Out of state: $35,897
In state: $19,349

Out of state: $23,349
Average net price $9,950 $13,082
Tuition
In state: $4,422

Out of state: $19,581
In state: $1,000

Out of state: $5,000
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,766

Meal plan: $3,920
Room/dormitory: $6,403

Meal plan: $5,029
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

72.0%
Average amount $9,237
73.0%
Average amount $5,772
Students receiving federal student loan 57.0%
Average amount $5,076
56.0%
Average amount $4,850
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $11,170
9.0%
Average amount $9,396

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 15,178
Men 33.3% Women 66.7%
10,145
Men 43.6% Women 56.4%
Graduate students 3,860
Men 29.8% Women 70.2%
1,732
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Very Low
Out-of-state students 5.7% 17.7%
International students 3.0% 1.7%
Campus local/setting City: Large Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 5,660 3,815
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from North Carolina Maryland New York Florida South Carolina North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Engineering Technologies
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 57.6% 61.4%
Dropout rate 13.6% 10.2%
Transferred out 26.8% 27.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,289
  • Year 2: $139,500
  • Year 3: $133,801
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,642
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $84,873
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,772
  • Year 2: $68,443
  • Year 3: $79,028
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,720
  • Year 2: $64,121
  • Year 3: $76,514
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,593
  • Year 2: $59,253
  • Year 3: $68,341
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $67,567
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,604
  • Year 2: $58,823
  • Year 3: $61,667
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,800
  • Year 2: $54,109
  • Year 3: $53,443
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,001
  • Year 2: $42,402
  • Year 3: $49,703
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,797
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $49,101
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,321
  • Year 2: $103,913
  • Year 3: $103,661
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,207
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $72,372
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,769
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $72,367
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,460
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $68,635
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,202
  • Year 2: $58,221
  • Year 3: $64,334
Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,173
  • Year 2: $54,996
  • Year 3: $63,171
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,798
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $61,637
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,571
  • Year 2: $55,512
  • Year 3: $59,030
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,835
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $58,930
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,362
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $57,003

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