WCU vs. VMI

Western Carolina University and Virginia Military Institute side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Western Carolina University
Virginia Military Institute

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: VMI (71.2% admitted vs 81.8%). Typical SAT 1160 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: WCU. Average net price is $13,767 vs $18,825 at VMI.
  • Graduation: WCU 50% vs VMI 69%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: WCU $39,100 vs VMI $62,100 (median).
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Key differences

Western Carolina University Virginia Military Institute
Acceptance rate
VMI more selective
WCU81.8%
VMI71.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
WCU higher
WCU1080-1270
VMI1050-1270
Average net price
WCU $5,058 less
WCU$13,767
VMI$18,825
In-state tuition
WCU $16,416 less
WCU$4,630
VMI$21,046
Out-of-state tuition
WCU $44,008 less
WCU$8,630
VMI$52,638
Graduation rate
VMI +19 pts
WCU50%
VMI69%
Median earnings (10 years)
VMI +$23,000
WCU$39,100
VMI$62,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • WCU 19,742
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • WCU 16,154
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance rate
  • WCU 81.8%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • WCU 12.7%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1180
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 22
  • VMI 27
  • Average high school GPA
  • WCU 3.44
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical high school grades
  • WCU B+
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions standards
  • WCU Moderate
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • WCU
  • VMI Low
  • SAT range
  • WCU 1080-1270
  • VMI 1050-1270
  • ACT range
  • WCU 19-25
  • VMI 24-31
  • Submit test scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • WCU $4,630
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • WCU $8,630
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & board
  • WCU $12,354
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average net price
  • WCU $13,767
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average grant aid
  • WCU $5,993
  • VMI $23,821
  • % receiving grant aid
  • WCU 81%
  • VMI 81%
  • Graduation rate
  • WCU 50%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • WCU $39,100
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • WCU 58%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median student loan debt
  • WCU $22,010
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median loan payment
  • WCU $227
  • VMI $258
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • WCU 16:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular majors
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Location
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • WCU Distant Town
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 11,686
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • WCU #698
  • VMI #123

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Western Carolina University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 1,527 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Carolina University 16:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 8.5% lower than at Western Carolina University ($11,310 vs. $12,354).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 509.9% higher at VMI than at Western Carolina University (about $44,008 more per year; $52,638 vs. $8,630).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Western Carolina University as at Virginia Military Institute (81% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 297.5% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($23,821 vs. $5,993).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at VMI than at WCU (27 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both WCU and VMI.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WCU Mar 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at VMI average a 3.65 high school GPA, 0.21 higher than at WCU (3.44).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at WCU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Carolina University graduates have a $2,990 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($22,010 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($227 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation (84% 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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