Western Carolina University (WCU)

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Western Carolina University can be found in Cullowhee, NC, a public college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. Approximately 13,000 students are enrolled at WCU.

An ACT or SAT exam may be required before applying to this institution. Scores between 1020 (25th percentile) to 1200 (75th percentile) on the SAT and in the range of 20 (25th percentile) to 25 (75th percentile) on the ACT is common among applicants that get into Western Carolina University. We were able to estimate the Western Carolina University (WCU) average GPA (3.06 - 3.33) of admitted students by applying sampled GPA data on over 150 schools. 69% of all students that apply are accepted to Western Carolina University, from which 28% choose to enroll. When applying historical data, we have projected that the Western Carolina University (WCU) acceptance rate 2021 will be around 48%. You can get more information from the admissions office website at wcu.edu.

Overall Western Carolina University (WCU) Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

68.7%

The overall acceptance rate for Western Carolina University was reported as 68.7% in Fall 2020 with over 11,100 applications submitted to WCU. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • WCU ACT Scores: 20 - 25
  • WCU Average GPA: 3.06 - 3.33

How Hard Is It to Get into Western Carolina University?

Applicant Selectivity: Medium

When determining how difficult it is for students to get into Western Carolina University, ACT/SAT test scores and high school average GPA ranges of accepted students of previous years can help estimate the selectivity of a school.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for WCU has been getting much higher in the past few years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 40.7%
  • 2017-2018: 38.8%
  • 2018-2019: 39.7%
  • 2019-2020: 68.7%
  • Projected WCU Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 47.6%

How Does Western Carolina University (WCU) Compare?

68.7%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for WCU is twenty-one percent higher than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
University of South Carolina-Upstate58.1%
East Tennessee State University86.0%
Lee University81.8%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Required
  • High School Class Rankings are Recommended
  • School Records are Required
  • College Prep Classes are Required
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants11,12840.3%59.7%
Admitted7,64640.3%59.7%
Enrolled2,10743.9%56.1%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to Western Carolina University (WCU) (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading510 - 610
Math510 - 590
Total Score1020 - 1200
ACT®Score Range
English19 - 24
Math19 - 25
Composite Score20 - 25
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.