Add a college to compare up to four schools
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Western Carolina University | Meredith College | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
||
| Remove | Remove | Remove | +Add | |
| Location | Charlotte, NC | Cullowhee, NC | Raleigh, NC | |
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | Large City | |
| Students | 30,146 | 12,243 | 1,802 | |
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | |
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | Non-profit | |
Costs |
||||
| Tuition (In State) | $3,812 | $1,000 | $39,832 | |
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,246 | $5,000 | $39,832 | |
| Room & Board | $12,800 | $10,954 | $11,746 | |
| Avg Net Price | $16,029 | $13,221 | $25,357 | |
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,666 | $5,319 | $25,175 | |
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 73% | 83% | 100% | |
Admission and Academics |
||||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.5% | 48.5% | 71.6% | |
| Avg High School GPA | 3.49 | 3.46 | 3.49 | |
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | Moderate | |
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 20/25 | 19/25 | |
| SAT Range | 1110/1280 | 1020/1220 | 1008/1200 | |
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2022 | Apr 1, 2022 | Feb 15, 2022 | |
Outcomes |
||||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 50% | 59% | |
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,600 | $39,100 | $40,000 | |
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 58% | 65% | |
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $22,010 | $26,000 | |
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $227 | $268 | |
| Learn More | Details | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (30,146 students vs. 12,243 students)
UNC Charlotte vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNC Charlotte or WCU?
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte is 281.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($3,812.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 244.9% higher at UNC Charlotte than Western Carolina University ($17,246.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than UNC Charlotte ($13,221 vs. $16,029)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 16.9% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Charlotte ($10,954 vs. $12,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than University of North Carolina at Charlotte (83% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Charlotte students is 44.1% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($7,666 vs. $5,319)
UNC Charlotte vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNC Charlotte or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or UNC Charlotte .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (1093) is 61 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming UNC Charlotte students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
- UNC Charlotte has a higher acceptance rate (79.5%) than WCU (48.5%)
UNC Charlotte vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNC Charlotte or WCU? 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 WCU and UNC Charlotte.
- The graduation rate at UNC Charlotte is higher that Western Carolina University (53% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from University of North Carolina at Charlotte earn on average $9,500 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $990 lower median federal student loan debt than UNC Charlotte graduates. ($22,010 vs. $23,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than UNC Charlotte graduates. ($227 vs. $237)
- More UNC Charlotte 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/