WCU vs. Tennessee Tech

Should I go to Western Carolina University or Tennessee Technological University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WCU or Tennessee Tech is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

ECU ASU UTC Middle Tennessee State University UNC Charlotte UNCW Tennessee University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State Memphis
Western Carolina University vs. Tennessee Technological University comparison
Western Carolina University Tennessee Technological University College 3 College 4
Western Carolina University Tennessee Technological University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

WCU Tennessee Tech
Location Cullowhee, NC Cookeville, TN
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 11,635 9,902
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #763 #570
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcu.edu tntech.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WCU Tennessee Tech
Tuition (In State) $1,000 $8,520
Tuition (Out of State) $5,000 $18,552
Room & Board $11,173 $10,502
Avg Net Price $13,022 $15,188
Avg Grant Aid $4,526 $8,471
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

WCU Tennessee Tech
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,917 7,229
Admitted 15,201 5,646
Acceptance Rate 84.8% 78.1%
Enrolled % 12.7% 36.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.63
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 21/28
SAT Range 1020/1240 1030/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2024 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

WCU Tennessee Tech
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Biology (5%)

Outcomes

WCU Tennessee Tech
Graduation Rate 50% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,010 $16,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $165

Diversity

WCU Tennessee Tech
% Men 41% 53%
% Women 59% 47%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 81%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

WCU Tennessee Tech
% In-State 80% 94%
% Out-of-State 18% 5%

Campus

WCU Tennessee Tech
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than Tennessee Tech based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 9,902 students)

WCU vs. Tennessee Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or Tennessee Tech?

  • Tennessee Technological University is 752% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($8,520.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 271% higher at Tennessee Tech than Western Carolina University ($18,552.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Tennessee Tech ($13,022 vs. $15,188)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee Technological University are 6.4% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,502 vs. $11,173)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Tennessee Technological University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee Technological University students is 87.2% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($8,471 vs. $4,526)

WCU vs. Tennessee Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Tennessee Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee Tech or WCU .

  • The average SAT score at Tennessee Technological University (1102) is 70 points higher than at WCU (1032)
  • Incoming Tennessee Tech students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Tennessee Tech students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at WCU (3.44)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Tennessee Tech (78.1%)

WCU vs. Tennessee Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WCU or Tennessee Tech? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Tennessee Tech and WCU.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is the same as at Tennessee Technological University (50% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Tennessee Technological University earn on average $4,300 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $39,100)
  • Tennessee Technological University students graduate with a $6,010 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($16,000 vs. $22,010)
  • Tennessee Tech graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($165 vs. $227)
  • More Tennessee Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/