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Durham, NC · Cullowhee, NC
| North Carolina Central University | Western Carolina University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,359/yr | $13,315/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,032/yr | $8,816/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $28,250 | $21,868 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,882/yr | $10,012/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $17,527/yr | $12,605/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,401/yr | $17,060/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $23,658/yr | $17,992/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $299/mo | $232/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,450/yr | $12,354/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,213/yr | $12,854/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,500/yr | $800/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,416/yr | $3,381/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $26,556/yr | $19,992/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $6,699/yr | $4,630/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,735/yr | $8,630/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 59% | 35% |
| Students taking federal loans | 63% | 44% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 87% | 82% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1080–1270 |
| SAT average | 1050 | 1157 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–22 | 19–25 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 16–21 · Math 17–23 | English 18–25 · Math 17–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 14,192 | 18,183 |
| Students accepted | 12,842 | 15,758 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,465 | 2,103 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 11% | 13% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | 9% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 1% | 23% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 42% | 60% |
| Freshmen who come back | 73% | 79% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $42,968/yr | $49,458/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $26,776–$60,270 | $35,205–$67,362 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 51% | 64% |
| White students graduating | 43% | 62% |
| Black students graduating | 42% | 48% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 45% | 58% |
| Asian students graduating | 100% | 60% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $35,967/yr | $43,085/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 60% | 71% |
| Graduate on time | 26% | 44% |
| Pell students who graduate | 39% | 55% |
| First-gen students who finish | 52% | 60% |
| Low-income students who finish | 50% | 58% |
| Students who transfer out | 33% | 27% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $38,793/yr | $45,617/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 15% · Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 11% | Health Professions 22% · Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Education 7% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 15% of degrees | Health Professions — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 11% of degrees | Education — 7% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Public Administration & Social Service — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $76,142/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $106,628/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 12% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 6,081 | 10,024 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,984 | 1,574 |
| Average professor pay | $9,555/mo | $9,069/mo |
| Full-time professors | 68% | 74% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $27,183 | $46,182 |
| Setting | City (large) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Durham, NC | Cullowhee, NC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1909 | 1889 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.4% | 1.7% |
| Men | 30% | 42% |
| Women | 70% | 58% |
| White students | 3.8% | 75% |
| Black students | 84% | 6.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5.7% | 8.8% |
| Asian students | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Two or more races | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Other / not reported | 1.2% | 1.8% |
| Special type | HBCU | None |
| First-generation students | 33% | 33% |
| Part-time students | 12% | 18% |
| Students age 25+ | 15% | 20% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $12,526/yr | $9,410/yr |
| Endowment | $59.6M | $138.1M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,375 | 4,760 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $9,404/yr | $6,521/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,356/yr | $5,243/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | Yes |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | No | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 282 | 370 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.0M | $3.4M |
| Athletics budget | $15.6M | $16.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $15.6M | $16.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $74,862 | $224,942 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.