Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina · Public · 10,024 undergraduates · wcu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
82%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1090 to 1250
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$22,550Est.Estimate
$28,760 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Western Carolina University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Western Carolina University uses a weighted or recalculated GPA, so its own calculation may differ slightly from yours.
Your admission chances
82% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$28,760
a year in 2027-28, from a $28,760 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1180
Send your score
About 75% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1030, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- If your weighted GPA is below 2.8, you must send a score.
Source: First-year Admission Requirements | Western Carolina University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Jan1Priority deadline · January 1, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- Feb1Regular Decision · February 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
82%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 7.2% of them sent SAT scores and 23% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1090 to 1250
Reading and Writing 560 to 650
Math 520 to 610
ACT composite 19 to 26
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16006.6%
- 1200 to 139938%
- 1000 to 119944%
- 800 to 99911%
- 600 to 7990.7%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.45
- 4.05.9%
- 3.75 to 3.9925%
- 3.50 to 3.7421%
- 3.25 to 3.4917%
- 3.00 to 3.2415%
- 2.50 to 2.9914%
- Below 2.501.6%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$22,550
a year, in state
$28,760
a year, out of state (tuition $7,240)
- Tuition (in state)$1,030
- Fees$3,700
- Food and housing$13,410
- Books and supplies$420
- Transportation and other$3,990
Western Carolina University published $21,915 in state for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$10,446
- $30,001 to $48,000$8,629
- $48,001 to $75,000$10,322
- $75,001 to $110,000$15,350
- Over $110,000$18,389
Financial aid
58%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$8,573
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
23%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $2,167 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 1/2
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
41 of 41
Earn credit with a score of 3
41 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $100Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 132 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 142 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 6 | GBS 19LS, P4: Humanities |
| Art History | 3 | 6 | ART 136, 137 P5: Fine & Performing Arts |
| Biology | 3 | 3 | BIOL 104, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| Biology | 5 | 4 | BIOL 140, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 153, C2: Mathematics |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 153, 255, C2: Mathematics |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | MATH 153, C2: Mathematics |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 139, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 139, 140, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | CHIN 102, 231, P6: World Cultures |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | CHIN 231, 232, P6: World Cultures |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSC 169, P6: World Cultures |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CS 150 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CS 150 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CS 130 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 131 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 6 | ENGL 101, ENGL 19A, C1: Writing |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENGL 101, 202, C1: Writing |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 6 | ENGL 19LS, P4: Humanities |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENGL 101, ENGL 19LS, C1 Writing, P4: Humanities |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | ENVH 130, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIST 221, 222, P3: History |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | FREN 102, 231, P6: World Cultures |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FREN 231, 232, P6: World Cultures |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | FREN 232, 301, P6: World Cultures |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | GER 102, 231, P6: World Cultures |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GER 231, 232, P6: World Cultures |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | GER 232, 301, P6: World Cultures |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 103, P6: World Cultures |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | WLL 101, 102, P6: World Cultures |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | WLL 102, 231, P6: World Cultures |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | WLL 231, 232, P6: World Cultures |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | JPN 102, 231, P6: World Cultures |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | JPN 231, 232, P6: World Cultures |
| Latin | 3 | 6 | WLL 101, 102, P6: World Cultures |
| Latin | 4 | 6 | WLL 102, 231, P6: World Cultures |
| Latin | 5 | 6 | WLL 231, 232, P6: World Cultures |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 232, P1: Social Science |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 231, P1: Social Science |
| Music Theory | 3 | 4 | MUS 19A |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 130, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 131, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 231, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 230, C5: Physical & Biological Science |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 4 | MATH 146, C2: Mathematics |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY 150, P1: Social Science |
| Research | 3 | 3 | ELEC 19A |
| Research | 4 | 6 | ELEC 19A |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | ELEC 19A |
| Seminar | 4 | 6 | ELEC 19A |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 102, 231, P6: World Cultures |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 231, 232, P6: World Cultures |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | SPAN 232, 301, P6: World Cultures |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 310, P6: World Cultures |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | SPAN 330, P6: World Cultures |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 170, C2: Mathematics |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSC 101, P1: Social Science, FAD |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | HIST 131, HIST 132, P1: Social Science, P3: History, FAD |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | HIST 107, P3: History |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
61%
Come back for a second year
79%
Typical earnings
$53,764
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Western Carolina University$84,799
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 43 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Western Carolina University. The Western Carolina University logo is a trademark of the college.