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ECU ASU Iowa ISU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke| University of Northern Iowa | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNI | WCU | ||
| Location | Cedar Falls, IA | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 8,945 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #414 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uni.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNI | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,111 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,265 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,343 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,782 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,412 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 83% | 99% |
Admission |
UNI | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,594 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 4,362 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.9% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 32.9% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.61 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1330 | 1020/1240 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
UNI | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNI | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,700 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 72% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,625 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $213 | $227 |
Diversity |
UNI | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
UNI | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 18% | ||
Campus |
UNI | WCU | ||
| 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 UNI based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 8,945 students)
UNI vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNI or WCU?
- University of Northern Iowa is 711.1% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($8,111.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 285.3% higher at UNI than Western Carolina University ($19,265.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than UNI ($13,022 vs. $15,782)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Iowa are 19.6% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($9,343 vs. $11,173)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than University of Northern Iowa (99% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Northern Iowa students is 41.7% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($6,412 vs. $4,526)
UNI vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNI or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or UNI .
- The average SAT score at University of Northern Iowa (1050) is 18 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming UNI students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman UNI students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at WCU (3.44)
- UNI has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than WCU (84.8%)
UNI vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNI 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 UNI.
- The graduation rate at UNI is higher than Western Carolina University (67% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from University of Northern Iowa earn on average $8,600 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($47,700 vs. $39,100)
- University of Northern Iowa students graduate with a $1,385 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,625 vs. $22,010)
- UNI graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($213 vs. $227)
- More UNI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/