Western Carolina University was founded in 1889 as a teacher training school. It was originally called Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School, but eventually changed its name to Cullowhee State Normal School in 1925. The school was designed to provide education for the rural population of Western North Carolina, and it did so until the Great Depression caused its closure in 1933.
In 1953, the school reopened as a two-year college and was renamed Western Carolina College. The college grew quickly over the next decade and offered its first four-year degree programs in 1964. In 1967, it became part of the University of North Carolina system and was renamed Western Carolina University. Since then, WCU has grown exponentially, adding numerous undergraduate and graduate degree programs, research centers, and other facilities that have helped make it one of the most respected universities in the state. In recent years, WCU has also worked to establish strong ties with the local community by providing educational opportunities for students of all ages through its outreach programs and partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Check lawfaqs for information about National University of Catamarca.
Western Carolina University, as one of the top colleges ranked by major educational institutions, has impressed us by its high selectivity and student friendly application process during admissions. The following tables detail 2018 class profile, including total applications received, average high school GPA, SAT scores/ACT scores, and acceptance rates of Western Carolina University. To learn more about GPA, SAT and ACT scores information, please follow the links below. If you want to find even more about Western Carolina University, such as tuition fees and scholarships, you can click the link after tables to visit the school’s official website.
Official website: https://www.abbreviationfinder.org/acronyms/wcu_western-carolina-university.html
Admissions Stats
Western Carolina University has an acceptance rate of 68%, which is slightly higher than the national average. The average GPA for incoming freshman is 3.4, and the average ACT/SAT score is 1900/27. Of the students who enrolled in fall 2019, 57% were from North Carolina, while 43% came from other states or countries. About 44% of all undergraduate students are male and 56% are female. Additionally, 20% of WCU’s student body identifies as a minority group, with 12% being African American, 5% Hispanic or Latino, 2% Asian American and 1% Native American. The university offers over 120 majors across its five colleges—College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education and Allied Professions, College of Health and Human Sciences and College of Fine and Performing Arts—and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. In terms of financial aid at WCU, 67% receive some form of aid through grants or scholarships from the university or other sources such as federal Pell Grants or state grants. In addition to need-based aid programs, WCU also offers merit-based scholarships for qualifying students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement throughout their high school career.
Fall 2022 Selectivity
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2022 acceptance rate | 39% |
| Early decision acceptance rate | N/A |
| Early action acceptance rate | N/A |
| Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students) | 39% |
Fall 2022 Applications, Acceptances & Enrollments
| Applicants | 14,979 |
| Female applicants | 8,806 |
| Male applicants | 6,173 |
| Applicants accepted | 5,813 |
| Female applicants accepted | 3,314 |
| Male applicants accepted | 2,499 |
| Freshman enrollment | 1,440 |
| Female freshman enrollment | 759 |
| Male freshman enrollment | 681 |
| Early decision applicants | N/A |
| Early decision applicants accepted | N/A |
| Early decision applicants enrolled | N/A |
| Early action applicants | N/A |
| Early action applicants accepted | N/A |
| Early action applicants enrolled | N/A |
| Total enrolled incoming freshmen who were accepted under early acceptance or early action | N/A |
Fall 2022 Wait List
| School has a wait list | No |
| Applicants placed on wait list | N/A |
| Students accepting place on wait list | N/A |
| Students accepted from wait list | N/A |
Fall 2022 High School Rank
| Freshman students submitting high school class standing | 93% |
Fall 2022 High School GPA
| Freshman students submitting high school GPA | 100% |
| Average high school GPA | 3.5 |
| High school GPA 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
Fall 2022 Freshman SAT Scores
| Freshman students submitting SAT scores | 96% |
| SAT Critical Reading average score | 517 |
| SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range | 470-560 |
| SAT Math average score | 528 |
| SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range: | 480-570 |
| SAT Writing average score | 489 |
| SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range | 440-530 |
| SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range | N/A |
Fall 2022 Freshman ACT Scores
| Freshman students submitting ACT scores | 20% |
| Average ACT Composite score | 22 |
| ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range | 17-24 |
| ACT English 25th-75th percentile range | 18-24 |
| ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range | 18-24 |