WCU vs. EMU

Should I go to Western Carolina University or Eastern Mennonite University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WCU or EMU 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.
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Western Carolina University vs. Eastern Mennonite University comparison
Western Carolina University Eastern Mennonite University College 3 College 4
Western Carolina University Eastern Mennonite University
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Overview

 WCU EMU
Location Cullowhee, NC Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 11,635 1,334
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #763 #215
Religious Affiliation - Mennonite Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcu.edu emu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WCU EMU
Tuition (In State) $1,000 $40,590
Tuition (Out of State) $5,000 $40,590
Room & Board $11,173 $12,240
Avg Net Price $13,022 $23,783
Avg Grant Aid $4,526 $30,460
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

 WCU EMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,917 1,144
Admitted 15,201 1,138
Acceptance Rate 84.8% 99.5%
Enrolled % 12.7% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Elite
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 25/34
SAT Range 1020/1240 1040/1590
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2024

Academics

 WCU EMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Health Professions (30%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • General Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 WCU EMU
Graduation Rate 50% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,010 $23,450
Median Loan Payment $227 $242

Diversity

 WCU EMU
% Men 41% 34%
% Women 59% 66%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 71%
% Black 6% 10%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 WCU EMU
% In-State 80% 68%
% Out-of-State 18% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Carolina University is larger than than EMU based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 1,334 students)

WCU vs. EMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or EMU?

  • Eastern Mennonite University is 3,959% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($40,590.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 711.8% higher at EMU than Western Carolina University ($40,590.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than EMU ($13,022 vs. $23,783)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 9.5% lower than costs at Eastern Mennonite University ($11,173 vs. $12,240)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Eastern Mennonite University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Mennonite University students is 573% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($30,460 vs. $4,526)

WCU vs. EMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 23 points higher than at EMU (1009)
  • Incoming WCU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at EMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman EMU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at WCU (3.44)
  • EMU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than WCU (84.8%)

WCU vs. EMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WCU or EMU? 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 EMU and WCU.

  • The graduation rate at EMU is higher than Western Carolina University (66% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Mennonite University earn on average $4,800 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $39,100)
  • Western Carolina University students graduate with a $1,440 lower median federal student loan debt than EMU graduates. ($22,010 vs. $23,450)
  • WCU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than EMU graduates. ($227 vs. $242)
  • More EMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 58%)

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