WCU vs. Sweet Briar College

Western Carolina University and Sweet Briar College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Western Carolina University
Sweet Briar College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Sweet Briar College (75.5% admitted vs 81.8%). Typical SAT 1210 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: WCU. Average net price is $13,767 vs $21,322 at Sweet Briar College.
  • Graduation: WCU 50% vs Sweet Briar College 70%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: WCU $39,100 vs Sweet Briar College $41,700 (median).
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Key differences

Western Carolina University Sweet Briar College
Acceptance rate
Sweet Briar College more selective
WCU81.8%
Sweet Briar College75.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Sweet Briar College higher
WCU1080-1270
Sweet Briar College1100-1310
Average net price
WCU $7,555 less
WCU$13,767
Sweet Briar College$21,322
In-state tuition
WCU $21,530 less
WCU$4,630
Sweet Briar College$26,160
Out-of-state tuition
WCU $17,530 less
WCU$8,630
Sweet Briar College$26,160
Graduation rate
Sweet Briar College +20 pts
WCU50%
Sweet Briar College70%
Median earnings (10 years)
Sweet Briar College +$2,600
WCU$39,100
Sweet Briar College$41,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • WCU 19,742
  • Sweet Briar College 1,239
  • Admitted
  • WCU 16,154
  • Sweet Briar College 936
  • Acceptance rate
  • WCU 81.8%
  • Sweet Briar College 75.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • WCU 12.7%
  • Sweet Briar College 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1180
  • Sweet Briar College 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 22
  • Sweet Briar College
  • Average high school GPA
  • WCU 3.44
  • Sweet Briar College 3.54
  • Typical high school grades
  • WCU B+
  • Sweet Briar College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • WCU Moderate
  • Sweet Briar College Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • WCU
  • Sweet Briar College
  • SAT range
  • WCU 1080-1270
  • Sweet Briar College 1100-1310
  • ACT range
  • WCU 19-25
  • Sweet Briar College
  • Submit test scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • Sweet Briar College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • Sweet Briar College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • WCU $4,630
  • Sweet Briar College $26,160
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • WCU $8,630
  • Sweet Briar College $26,160
  • Room & board
  • WCU $12,354
  • Sweet Briar College $15,230
  • Average net price
  • WCU $13,767
  • Sweet Briar College $21,322
  • Average grant aid
  • WCU $5,993
  • Sweet Briar College $22,387
  • % receiving grant aid
  • WCU 81%
  • Sweet Briar College 99%
  • Graduation rate
  • WCU 50%
  • Sweet Briar College 70%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • WCU $39,100
  • Sweet Briar College $41,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • WCU 58%
  • Sweet Briar College 72%
  • Median student loan debt
  • WCU $22,010
  • Sweet Briar College $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • WCU $227
  • Sweet Briar College $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • WCU 16:1
  • Sweet Briar College 9:1
  • Popular majors
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Sweet Briar College
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • Location
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar, VA
  • Setting
  • WCU Distant Town
  • Sweet Briar College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 11,686
  • Sweet Briar College 444
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • Sweet Briar College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • WCU #698
  • Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC with Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Western Carolina University is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 444 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Carolina University 16:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 18.9% lower than at Sweet Briar College ($12,354 vs. $15,230).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 203.1% higher at Sweet Briar College than at Western Carolina University (about $17,530 more per year; $26,160 vs. $8,630).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sweet Briar College than at Western Carolina University (99% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sweet Briar College students is 273.6% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($22,387 vs. $5,993).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both WCU and Sweet Briar College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WCU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Sweet Briar College average a 3.54 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at WCU (3.44).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at WCU vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Carolina University graduates have a $4,990 lower median loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates ($22,010 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sweet Briar College graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More Sweet Briar College 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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