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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State University of Maine UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU| University of Southern Maine | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of Southern Maine | WCU | ||
| Location | Portland, ME | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 7,583 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #757 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | maine.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of Southern Maine | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,064 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,680 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,924 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,343 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,668 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 99% |
Admission |
University of Southern Maine | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,544 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 4,736 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.4% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.33 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 998/1220 | 1020/1240 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Mar 1, 2024 |
Academics |
University of Southern Maine | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of Southern Maine | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 33% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,600 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $227 |
Diversity |
University of Southern Maine | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
University of Southern Maine | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 72% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 27% | 18% | ||
Campus |
University of Southern Maine | WCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Carolina University is larger than than University of Southern Maine based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 7,583 students)
University of Southern Maine vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Maine or WCU?
- University of Southern Maine is 706.4% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($8,064.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 353.6% higher at University of Southern Maine than Western Carolina University ($22,680.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Maine than WCU ($12,343 vs. $13,022)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern Maine are 2.3% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,924 vs. $11,173)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than University of Southern Maine (99% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Maine students is 113.6% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($9,668 vs. $4,526)
University of Southern Maine vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of Southern Maine or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or University of Southern Maine .
- The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 48 points higher than at University of Southern Maine (984)
- Incoming University of Southern Maine students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at University of Southern Maine (3.33)
- University of Southern Maine has a higher acceptance rate (85.4%) than WCU (84.8%)
University of Southern Maine vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of Southern Maine 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 University of Southern Maine.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than University of Southern Maine (50% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from University of Southern Maine earn on average $3,500 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $490 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Southern Maine graduates. ($22,010 vs. $22,500)
- WCU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than University of Southern Maine graduates. ($227 vs. $232)
- More University of Southern Maine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/