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Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University, or WCU, is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. It was founded in 1889 with the intention of educating the people of the western North Carolina Mountains. WCU is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers a wide variety of degrees and programs through the following academic divisions:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Business
  • College of Education and Allied Professions
  • College of Fine and Performing Arts
  • College of Health and Human Sciences
  • Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology
  • The Graduate School
  • The Honors College

Western Carolina University ‘s sports teams are nicknamed the Catamounts. WCU is a member of the Southern Conference, and its athletic teams participate in the NCAA Division I athletics.

Overview of Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC is home to Western Carolina University. Cullowhee is a rural area. The school is a public institution. Degrees at Western Carolina University go up to the Doctoral degree.

Areas of Study

Students at the school can choose among many degree programs. Students commonly pursue studies in education and teaching.

Western Carolina University Selectivity

Prospective students are advised that admissions are not open to all; the school selects from among qualified applicants. Three quarters of students in 2007 had SAT verbal scores of at least 450. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 460 and 560.

Faculty

The school has a tenure system for senior faculty. The full-time faculty at Western Carolina University is well-paid, which often goes with faculty quality.

Student Body

The school has 9,056 enrolled students (as of 2007).

Student Life

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 Tuition and Affordability

Western Carolina University is a relative bargain, with lower tuition and fees than most schools offering similar degrees.

More complete details are provided below.

Contacting Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723-9646
General Phone: (828) 227-7211
http://www.wcu.edu

Western Carolina University Programs and Degrees (2007)

General CategoryDegreesMost Common Majors [see all]
Education And Teaching414middle school teaching, elementary school teaching, educational supervision, teacher education, education, college student counseling, educational administration, secondary school administration, ...
Business And Management355business management, marketing studies, accounting, business administration, marketing, MIS, finance, human resources, ...
Liberal Arts147English, sociology, history, political science, Spanish language, anthropology, social services, liberal arts and sciences, ...
Security And Law Enforcement102criminal justice and safety, forensic science
Engineering Technician102engineering technology, construction engineering tech, electronics tech, industrial tech, manufacturing tech
Therapy And Counseling100physical therapy, psychology, communication disorders, school psychology, clinical psychology
Nursing And Emergency Medicine89registered nursing, EMT paramedic
Nutrition And Exercise Therapy89sports and fitness management, parks and recreation management, recreational therapy, dietitian, athletic trainer
Media70communication studies, media and digital communications
Family And Social Work67public administration, social work, family studies
Science49biology, chemistry, geology, science and society
Medical Administration33environmental health, medical records admin, health care administration
Fine Arts32fine arts
Design25interior design
Music18music performance, music
Hospitality17hospitality management
Mathematics14applied mathematics, mathematics
Conservation And Resource Management12natural resources management, environmental science
Drama And Performing Arts10drama
Medical Support And Technology9clinical lab tech
Religion And Philosophy6philosophy
Computer Science And Engineering4computer science
Art Studies0art studies
Engineering0electrical engineering

Number of programs and degrees for Western Carolina University in 2007:

Degree LevelTotal
Awarded
Number of
Programs
Bachelor's degree1,25573
Master's degree48939
Doctor's degree131
Post-master's certificate71
Postbaccalaureate certificate01

Student Body

In 2007, Western Carolina University had a total enrollment of 9,056 students (7,549 full-time equivalent).

Students in the Freshman Class:

GroupPercent
Men50%
Women50%
Full-Time100%
Part-Time0%

Students By Class:

GroupPercent
Undergraduate78%
Graduate22%

Racial Diversity:
RacePercent
White84%
Black5%
Hispanic1%
Asian1%
American Indian1%
Unknown4%
(Foreign Students)3%

Students by Age:

AgePercent
Under 180%
18-1924%
20-2126%
22-2417%
25-2910%
30-347%
35-395%
40-497%
50-643%
65+0%

Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)

ResidencePercent
North Carolina92%
Georgia2%
South Carolina2%
Florida1%
Virginia1%

Western Carolina University Graduation, Retention, and Transfers

Retention Rates (2007):

GroupReturning From
Previous Year
Full-Time66 %

Western Carolina University Room and Board (2007)

Western Carolina University offers campus housing for 3,640 of its 7,549 (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.

Western Carolina University Admissions and Selectivity (2007)

Acceptances:

GroupApplicantsAcceptedPercent
Accepted
EnrolledPercent of
Accepted Enrolled
Total4,8303,70577%1,56842%
Men2,3431,75675%78044%
Women2,4871,94978%78840%

Standardized Test Scores:

Test25th Percentile75th Percetile
SAT Verbal450550
SAT Math460560
SAT Writing430530
ACT Verbal1621
ACT Math1722
ACT Composite1822

Application Requirements:

ItemRequirement
GPArequired
Class Rankrequired
High School Recordrequired
College Prep Programrequired
Recommendationsnot required
Formal Demonstration of Competencerecommended
Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT)required
Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT94%
Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT18%
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)required
Other Standardized Testsnot required

Western Carolina University Expenses and Financial Aid (2007)

Expenses and Financial Aid:

ExpenseAmount
In-state tuition and fees$ 4,061
Out-of-state tuition and fees$ 13,644
Room and board$ 5,462
Room charge$ 2,832
Board (meal plan) charge$ 2,630
Books and supplies$ 1,981
Other expenses$ 2,066

Financial Aid:
Western Carolina University participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 298100)

Western Carolina University Faculty

Western Carolina University has a tenure system for faculty.

Tenure Status of Faculty (2007):

Full-Time Faculty LevelMenWomen
Tenured11665
Non-tenured, but on tenure track8178
Non-tenured and not on tenure track5858

Salaries for full-time faculty:

Full-Time Faculty (2007):

Full-Time Faculty LevelContract LengthNumber MenAvg Salary MenNumber WomenAvg Salary Women
Professorcalendar year7$100,8831*
Associate professorcalendar year10$106,4084$89,485
Assistant professorcalendar year4$62,8831*
Instructorcalendar year6$59,5482*
No academic rankcalendar year8$78,7753$102,871
All faculty totalcalendar year35$85,97911$86,498

*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.

Full-Time Faculty (2007):

Full-Time Faculty LevelContract LengthNumber MenAvg Salary MenNumber WomenAvg Salary Women
Professoracademic year46$89,53123$79,054
Associate professoracademic year58$71,16939$68,350
Assistant professoracademic year72$62,92175$57,202
Instructoracademic year6$47,90712$45,645
Lectureracademic year0*1*
No academic rankacademic year38$57,88040$51,172
All faculty totalacademic year220$69,379190$60,103

*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.

Western Carolina University Athletics

Athletic Conferences:

SportConference
FootballSouthern Conference
BasketballSouthern Conference
BaseballSouthern Conference
TrackSouthern Conference

Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):

SportMenWomenTotal
Total166103269
Football83083
Track343165
Baseball30030
Basketball111526
All Other Sports85765

Western Carolina University Degree Programs (2007)

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

DESIGN
Interior Design

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
Education, General
Education, Other
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
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
Teaching English as Second/Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor

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
Human Development and Family Studies, General
Public Administration
Social Work

FINE ARTS
Fine/Studio Arts, General

HOSPITALITY
Hospitality Administration/Management, General

LIBERAL ARTS
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
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
Environmental Health
Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator
Health/Health Care Administration/Management

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist

MUSIC
Music Performance, General
Music, General

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
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
Science, Technology and Society

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
Forensic Science and Technology

THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Clinical Psychology
Communication Disorders, General
Physical Therapy/Therapist
Psychology, General
School Psychology

Western Carolina University Highlights

(Details are provided further down on this page.)

What Sets Western Carolina University Apart:

CategoryTrophy 
Number of degree programs
(vs. all colleges)
Top 4%Western Carolina University Number of degree programs
Lowest tuition & fees (in-state)
(vs. colleges with similar degree levels)
Top 8%Western Carolina University Lowest tuition & fees (in-state)
Number of students
(vs. all colleges)
Top 9%Western Carolina University Number of students
Dorm rooms per full-time student
(vs. all colleges)
Top 12%Western Carolina University Dorm rooms per full-time student
% of full-time faculty on tenure track
(vs. all colleges)
Top 13%Western Carolina University % of full-time faculty on tenure track
Faculty/student ratio (full-time)
(vs. colleges of similar size)
Top 13%Western Carolina University Faculty/student ratio (full-time)
% of degrees in nutrition and exercise therapy
(vs. colleges of similar size)
Top 17%Western Carolina University % of degrees in nutrition and exercise therapy
% of degrees in education and teaching
(vs. all colleges)
Top 19%Western Carolina University % of degrees in education and teaching
Salaries of full-time faculty
(vs. all colleges)
Top 19%Western Carolina University Salaries of full-time faculty
Explanation of the Highlights categories

Notable:
Accepts some high school credits
Offers credit for life experience
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
On-campus day care
Option to study abroad
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

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