Cullowhee, North Carolina is home to Western Carolina University. Cullowhee is a rural site not far from an urban area. The school is a public institution. Degrees at Western Carolina University go up to the Doctoral degree.
Students at the school can choose among many degree programs.
Prospective students are advised that admissions are not open to all; the school selects from among qualified applicants. Three quarters of students in 2005 had SAT verbal scores of at least 460. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 470 and 560.
Western Carolina University has a tenure system for senior faculty.
The school has 8,665 enrolled students (as of 2005).
Full-time students are the norm at Western Carolina University. The school offers dorm rooms to a higher percentage of its students than do most colleges. Western Carolina University offers students meal plans. The school values student athletics, and belongs to the Southern Conference.
Western Carolina University is a relative bargain, with lower tuition and fees than most schools offering similar degrees.
More complete details are provided below.
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723-9646
General Phone: (828) 227-7211
Admissions Phone: (828) 227-7317
Financial Aid Phone: (828) 227-7290
http://www.wcu.edu
Western Carolina University awarded degrees in these major categories in 2005:
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Business And Management | 436 | business management, marketing studies, marketing, business administration, accounting, MIS, human resources, finance, ... |
| Education And Teaching | 342 | elementary school teaching, middle school teaching, education, educational supervision, teacher education, kindergarten/preschool teaching, educational administration, music teaching, ... |
| Liberal Arts | 125 | English, sociology, history, political science, American history, anthropology, Spanish language, liberal arts and sciences, ... |
| Therapy And Counseling | 98 | psychology, communication disorders, physical therapy, clinical psychology, school psychology |
| Security And Law Enforcement | 92 | criminal justice and safety |
| Nursing And Emergency Medicine | 88 | registered nursing, EMT paramedic, nurse practitioner |
| Engineering Technician | 73 | industrial tech, electronics tech, manufacturing tech, construction engineering tech, engineering technology |
| Nutrition And Exercise Therapy | 70 | sports and fitness management, parks and recreation management, dietitian, recreational therapy, athletic trainer |
| Science | 59 | biology, chemistry, geology |
| Media | 58 | communication studies |
| Family And Social Work | 51 | social work, public administration |
| Hospitality | 28 | hospitality management |
| Medical Adminstration | 27 | environmental health, health care administration, medical records admin |
| Fine Arts | 27 | fine arts |
| Design | 19 | interior design |
| Computer Science And Engineering | 17 | computer science |
| Music | 15 | music, music performance |
| Mathematics | 12 | applied mathematics, mathematics |
| Conservation And Resource Management | 11 | natural resources management, environmental science |
| Medical Assistant And Technician | 10 | clinical lab tech |
| Drama And Performing Arts | 8 | drama |
| Religion And Philosophy | 3 | philosophy |
| Art Studies | 1 | art studies |
| Engineering | 0 | electrical engineering |
Number of programs and degrees for Western Carolina University in 2005:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 1,200 | 70 |
| Master's degree | 454 | 40 |
| Post-master's certificate | 14 | 1 |
| Doctor's degree | 2 | 1 |
In 2005, Western Carolina University had a total enrollment of 8,665 students (7,347 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class (2005):
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 49% |
| Women | 51% |
| Full-Time | 100% |
| Part-Time | 0% |
More details are available, using 2004 data:
Students By Class (2004):
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 78% |
| Graduate | 22% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 86% |
| Black | 5% |
| Hispanic | 1% |
| Asian | 1% |
| American Indian | 2% |
| Other Races | 3% |
| (Foreign Students) | 3% |
Students by Age (2004):
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0% |
| 18-19 | 31% |
| 20-21 | 22% |
| 22-24 | 16% |
| 25-29 | 10% |
| 30-34 | 6% |
| 35-39 | 4% |
| 40-49 | 7% |
| 50-64 | 3% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence (2004):
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 92% |
| Georgia | 2% |
| South Carolina | 1% |
| Florida | 1% |
Retention Rates (2004):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 74 % |
| Part-Time | 100 % |
Western Carolina University offers campus housing for 4,074 of its 7,347 (full-time) students. Freshmen are required to live on campus.
(Please refer to our profile of Cullowhee, North Carolina for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other North Carolina Colleges).
The school offers students a meal plan with 21 meals per week.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 4,905 | 3,738 | 76% | 1,578 | 42% |
| Men | 2,373 | 1,752 | 74% | 771 | 44% |
| Women | 2,532 | 1,986 | 78% | 807 | 41% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 460 | 560 |
| SAT Math | 470 | 560 |
| ACT Verbal | 16 | 21 |
| ACT Math | 17 | 22 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 22 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | required |
| Class Rank | required |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | required |
| Recommendations | not required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | recommended |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 95% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 17% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Admissions Phone Number: (828) 227-7317
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 3,410 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 12,846 |
| Room and board | $ 4,900 |
| Room charge | $ 2,428 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 2,472 |
| Books and supplies | $ 2,004 |
| Other expenses | $ 2,747 |
Financial Aid:
Western Carolina University participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 298100)
Financial Aid Phone Number: (828) 227-7290
Western Carolina University has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2004):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 106 | 66 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 73 | 54 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 28 | 32 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2004):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | calendar year | 3 | $90,543 | 2 | * |
| Associate professor | calendar year | 5 | $59,526 | 3 | $73,809 |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 2 | * | 0 | * |
| Lecturer | calendar year | 1 | * | 0 | * |
| No academic rank | calendar year | 5 | $69,583 | 3 | $63,350 |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 16 | $67,412 | 8 | $68,559 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2004):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 54 | $74,113 | 22 | $68,862 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 59 | $59,887 | 43 | $57,334 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 56 | $54,377 | 50 | $49,556 |
| No academic rank | academic year | 22 | $49,264 | 29 | $41,317 |
| All faculty total | academic year | 191 | $61,070 | 144 | $53,169 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences (2005):
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Football | Southern Conference |
| Basketball | Southern Conference |
| Baseball | Southern Conference |
| Track | Southern Conference |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2004):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 152 | 76 | 228 |
| Football | 81 | 0 | 81 |
| Track | 23 | 24 | 47 |
| Baseball | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| Basketball | 12 | 11 | 23 |
| All Other Sports | 9 | 41 | 50 |
ART STUDIES
Art/Art Studies, General
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other
Finance, General
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
International Business/Trade/Commerce
Management Information Systems, General
Marketing, Other
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Science
CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Science
Natural Resources Management and Policy
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Art Teacher Education
Biology Teacher Education
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Community College Education
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Curriculum and Instruction
Education, General
Education, Other
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Elementary Education and Teaching
English/Language Arts Teacher Education
French Language Teacher Education
German Language Teacher Education
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching
Mathematics Teacher Education
Music Teacher Education
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
Secondary School Administration/Principalship
Social Studies Teacher Education
Spanish Language Teacher Education
Special Education and Teaching, General
Teacher Education/Profess Development, Levels & Methods, Other
ENGINEERING
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engr Technology/Technician
Engineering Technology, General
Industrial Technology/Technician
Manufacturing Technology/Technician
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Public Administration
Social Work
FINE ARTS
Fine/Studio Arts, General
HOSPITALITY
Hospitality Administration/Management, General
LIBERAL ARTS
American History (United States)
American Indian/Native American Studies
Anthropology
English Language and Literature, General
French Language and Literature
Geography
German Language and Literature
History, General
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Political Science and Government, General
Social Sciences, General
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
MATHEMATICS
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics, General
MEDIA
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
MEDICAL ADMINSTRATION
Environmental Health
Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator
Health/Health Care Administration/Management
MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND TECHNICIAN
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
MUSIC
Music Performance, General
Music, General
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
Family Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Athletic Training/Trainer
Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy
SCIENCE
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Geology/Earth Science, General
SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Clinical Psychology
Communication Disorders, General
Physical Therapy/Therapist
Psychology, General
School Psychology
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets Western Carolina University Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 4% | ![]() ![]() |
| Lowest tuition & fees (in-state) (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 6% | ![]() |
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 9% | ![]() |
| Dorm rooms per full-time student (vs. all colleges) | Top 11% | ![]() |
| % of full-time faculty on tenure track (vs. all colleges) | Top 15% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in nutrition and exercise therapy (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 19% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in business and management (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 19% | ![]() |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits
Offers credit for life experience
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Career counseling
Career placement services
Student employment services
On-campus day care
Option to study abroad
Offers campus housing
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Offers a board (meal) plan
Tenure system for quality teaching
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member
Try our unique CollegeMatch™ tool to find schools similar to Western Carolina University.
Information is not guaranteed to be correct. Please check with individual schools for the most accurate and recent information.
Copyright © 2004-2008, Moving Traffic, Inc. All Rights Reserved.