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Western Carolina University: Overview, Rankings, Fees & Courses, Placements
600 acre campus- Estd. 1889
About Western Carolina University
The Western Carolina University, is a public university that welcomed its first cohort of students in 1889. The main campus of the university is located in Cullowhee, USA. As per Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2025, the university is ranked at #277, nationally. As part of its course catalogue, the university has 21 courses across 8 streams, the most popular being Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering, Animation, Design and Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ). These courses are divided as 13 courses at UG level and 8 courses at graduate level. List of popular courses are M.A., B.E. / B.Tech, BBA, B.A. and MFA. The UG courses have an average duration of 4 years, while that of graduate courses is around 16 months to 32 months. The Western Carolina University tuition fee for the first-year tuition fee for UG courses is USD 8,532 - 8,880. For PG courses, this costs 16 months to 32 months. For students relocating to Cullowhee, the annual cost of living is around USD 9,213 - 11,764. Western Carolina University prioritizes applicants with a solid academic track record and thus prospective students are required to satisfy the entry requirements, to have the best possible chance of admission at the institute. The following exam scores are deemed acceptable for admissions by the institute: IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, PTE, Duolingo and GMAT.
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
In order to secure an admission, all the international students must fulfill the Western Carolina University admission requirements listed below:
1) Undergraduate Requirements:
- Official high school transcripts (English translation);
- Proof of English language proficiency;
- Proof of finances; and
- Immunization information form.
2) Graduate Requirements:
- Official college/university transcripts (English translation);
- Letters of recommendation (LOR);
- Proof of English language proficiency;
- Resume/CV;
- GMAT/GRE score; and
- Immunization information form.
Western Carolina University has its main campus in Cullowhee and operates two satellite campuses in Asheville and Cherokee. 600+ acres in size, the main campus consists of well-maintained buildings, athletic facilities, pathways, green lawns, and parking spaces.
It features 17 residence halls that accommodate over 4,500 students. A full-service cafeteria and two food courts with various fast-food outlets serve a variety of cuisines and beverages to suit different tastes. Other on-campus facilities include a bookstore, health, and counseling center, movie theatre, post office, student support center, jogging trail, recreation center, tennis courts, and two indoor swimming pools.
Also, the university has over 170 clubs and organizations that focus on academic, social and personal interests like public speaking, sports, dance, and music. Several sororities and fraternities encourage participation in various events and activities to promote cultural unity and friendships. WCU has 16 men's and women's varsity teams, who represent the university in intercollegiate events and competitions under the name Catamounts.
Overall, the Western Carolina University campus life is full of cultures, traditions, diversity, entertainment, and more.
International students who wish to study graduate programme at Western Carolina University must have at least GPA of 3.0 on ascale of 4.0. Admission to any graduate programme at WCU requires a GPA score. Applicants also meet the general entry requirements to get admission to the university.
Western Carolina University Ranking 2026
Western Carolina University is frequently recognized for its academics and global reputation. The university was ranked #277 at national level as per the Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2025.
Western Carolina University's specialized courses such as #317 has been ranked BBA nationally, respectively.
Apart from this, US News & World Report also ranked the university at #227 in 2024.
#283
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
Western Carolina University is one of the best universities in USA and attracts bright minds from all over the world. Listed below are some of the benefits of attending the university:
- Strong academic reputation;
- Affordable tuition fees;
- Inclusive and diverse community of students;
- Variety of generous scholarships and grants offered;
- Safe surroundings;
- Exceptional sports/recreation facilities; and
- Strong economy and job market in USA.
Western Carolina University courses
Western Carolina University offers over 21 courses at UG and graduate levels to Indian students through 6 departments. While it has 13 courses at UG level and 8 courses at the graduate level that Indian students can choose from. These Western Carolina University courses are offered in over 8 streams fields of study. Students can specialise in areas such as Computer Science Engineering, Business Economics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Environmental Sciences. The duration of undergraduate courses at the university is 4 years and the duration of graduate courses is 16 months to 32 months.
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Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
At the Western Carolina University, international students can choose between 115 undergraduate and 40 graduate programs, across leading disciplines of study. As per the data of the enrollment, the top Western Carolina courses are:
| Incarnate Word Majors | Percentage of Graduates (2022) |
|---|---|
| Business Administration & Management | 10% |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 9.1% |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 5.4% |
| Psychology | 4.7% |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 4.6% |
| Marketing/Marketing Management | 3.5% |
| Biology/Biological Sciences | 3.3% |
| Public Administration | 3.3% |
| Emergency Medical Technology/Technician | 3.3% |
| Elementary Education & Teaching | 3% |
Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the best courses offered by the Western Carolina University. It is taught by academically qualified Ph.D. faculty and students get to indulge activitely with the help of tours, internships, and guest speakers, and more.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 16 - 32 months |
| Annual Fee | INR 17 L |
Accreditation | Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Specializations | Accounting, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, Entrepreneurship, Health Care Administration, Non-profit Management, Professional and Technical Writing, Project Management, Sport Management, etc.
|
In order to pursue the Western Carolina University MBA, all the applicants must fulfill the eligibility criteria listed below:
- Official academic transcripts (English translation);
- Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited university;
- Goal statement: Applicants must talk about their interest in the university's MBA program, their professional and/or personal goals and how they expect the MBA programme will help them achieve their goals;
- Undergraduate GRE 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher;
- GMAT href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/lor-recommendation-letter-applycontent2702" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Letter of recommendation (LOR);
- Proof of English language proficiency;
- Minimum 450 GMAT score;
- Minimum 300 GRE score.
Note: Standardized test score may be waived for those applicants holding a master’s degree or have certain work experience, as per the program's requirements.
Graduate Assistant Application Deadline: Apr 1, 2025 (Fall Intake).
Western Carolina University Admission 2026
For Western Carolina University admission, Indian students have to apply online through the official website. The general admission requirements include meeting the entry requirements and English language proficiency requirements. The Western Carolina University accepts English Language exam scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, PTE, Duolingo and GMAT as a proof. Also at the end of application process, there is an application fee. To complete the application process, students are required to submit a few documents such as LOR, Essay and CV.
- Application fees :No Fees
- Type of deadline :Depends on course
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
Western Carolina University accepts international applications either through the Common Application or the ApplyTexas website for Bachelor's courses and Graduate Application portal for Master's courses. Once a candidate has applied to the university and submitted all the required documents, it takes the university about 2 weeks to evaluate applications and send out the admission offers. Students must note that they need to fulfill all the Western Carolina entry requirements in order to get admitted in the university.
Western Carolina University allows overseas candidates to apply for admissions in three intake seasons: Summer, Fall, and Spring. Given below are the Western Carolina application deadlines for international students:
Intake Season | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
Spring | Oct 1, 2024 |
Fall | Feb 1, 2025 |
Summer | Apr 1, 2025 |
Yes, Western Carolina charges an application fee of USD 55 (INR 5.4 K) for admissions. Since the Western Carolina University application fee is non-refundable, applicants do not receive any refund even if they withdraw the application. While applying for Western Carolina admissions, students must pay the above listed amount.
Conversion Rate: 1 USD = INR 83.32
WCUWestern Carolina University Scholarships 2024
Western Carolina University does not offer any scholarships to international students as the scholarships are only for permanent citizens of the United States. In order to study in the university, overseas applicants on F-1 and/or J-1 visas have to prove that they have sufficient funds to pay for their program fees. Students can submit official bank statements for proof of finances.
Nonetheless, there are plenty of scholarships for international students offered by external agencies and philanthropists. Indian students can avail some scholarships to study in USA, in order to fund the heavy expenses of studying abroad. Some of them are:
Commonly asked questions On Scholarships
No, Western Carolina University does not offer any scholarships for their international students. Before getting enrolled in the university, all the overseas applicants are required to submit their proof of sufficient funds for the entire course of study. It is interesting to note that a range of scholarships for international students are offered by external agencies and philanthropists. Also, Indian students can avail one of the following scholarships in order to reduce the expensive cost of studying in USA:
Annual tuition fee required to pursue a degree course at Western Carolina University is around 15 L on an average, which can be considered expensive as a study abroad option. Students can refer to the table for course-specific fees requirements:
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MBA/PGDM (1 course) | INR 17 L |
MS (4 courses) | INR 16 L |
B.Sc. (5 courses) | INR 7 L |
B.A. (1 course) | INR 7 L |
B.E. / B.Tech (5 courses) | INR 7 L |
BBA (2 courses) | INR 7 L |
M.A. (1 course) | INR 16 L |
MFA (1 course) | INR 16 L |
MPA (1 course) | INR 16 L |
Western Carolina University offers numerous scholarships to International students according to their eligibility. In addition, WCU’s scholarship support staff works to connect students with state-administered scholarship opportunities and others. Western Carolina University scholarships are available in three categories:
- Donor Supported Scholarships
- Academic Scholarships
- Graduate Students
WCU Popular Courses
4 yearsWestern Carolina University Placements
As per the data sourced from the web, the alumni of Western Carolina are currently working with some of the top organizations in the world across multiple industries. Listed below are the details:
- Western Carolina University alumni members are working at the university campus, and in organizations such as Wells Fargo, Atrium Health, Lowe's Companies, Novant Health, Duke Energy Corporation, etc.
- Graduates are working in industries such as Operations, Education, Business Development, Healthcare Services, Sales, etc.
- Some of the courses preferred by the alumni are , , , A etc.
A presentation of the sectors where the alumni of Harvard is currently working is as follows:
Note: In the above pie chart, Others include Truist, HCA Healthcare, North Carolilna State University, Amazon, UNC Health, First Citizens, and Fidelity Investments.
Commonly asked questions On Placements
Admissions at Western Carolina University are not highly competitive in 2024 as out of 100 applications the university accepts around 83. The WCU acceptance rate is 83% for the fall of 2023-24. Mentioned below are the Western Carolina University enrollment statistics for UG:
Particulars | Stats 2023-2024 |
Application Received | 19,234 |
Admitted Students | 16,014 |
Total Students Enrolled | 2,118 |
Yield Rate | 13.2% |
Acceptance Rate | 83.26% |
Western Carolina University Fees
The first-year tuition fees for undergraduate courses for Indian applicants at Western Carolina University is USD 8,532 - 8,880. On the other hand, the fees for graduate courses applicants is USD 18,595 - 20,395. The costs of living at the university can include the main fees as well as additional costs such as food, transport, textbooks, etc. The average annual cost of living at Western Carolina University is USD 9,213 - 11,764.
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Duration & Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
B.E. / B.Tech(5 courses) | INR 8 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 4 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 75 & Above, PTE: 50 & Above, Duolingo: 95 & Above |
B.Sc.(5 courses) | INR 8 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 4 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 75 & Above, PTE: 50 & Above, Duolingo: 95 & Above |
MBA/PGDM(1 course) | INR 18 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 16-32 months Exam Accepted: GMAT, GRE, IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 79 & Above, PTE: 56 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
MFA(1 course) | INR 16 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 3 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 79 & Above, PTE: 56 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
BBA(2 courses) | INR 8 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 4 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 75 & Above, PTE: 50 & Above, Duolingo: 95 & Above |
B.A.(1 course) | INR 8 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 4 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 75 & Above, PTE: 50 & Above, Duolingo: 95 & Above |
MS(4 courses) | INR 16 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18-24 months Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 79 - 80, PTE: 56 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above, GRE |
M.A.(1 course) | INR 16 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 2 years Exam Accepted: GRE, IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 79 & Above, PTE: 56 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
MPA(1 course) | INR 16 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 2 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 79 & Above, PTE: 56 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
Commonly asked questions On Fees and Eligibility
Yes, meeting the English language requirements is one of the major Western Carolina University eligibility criteria for international students. It accepts major English exam scores as proof of English language proficiency. Students can refer to the table below for minimum score requirements:
English Proficiency Exam | UG Minimum Score Requirements | PG Minimum Score Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Overall score of 75 or higher | Overall score of 79 or higher | |
Overall score of 6.0 or higher (with no less than 5.0 in each band) | Overall score of 6.5 or higher (with no less than 6.0 in each band) | |
Overall score of 50 or higher | Overall score of 56 or higher | |
880 or higher | - | |
18 or higher | - |
Studying in the Western Carolina University can be considered affordable for Indian students as the cost sums up to be around INR 15 L on an average. Students can refer to the table for course-specific fees requirements:
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MBA/PGDM (1 course) | INR 17 L |
B.Sc. (5 courses) | INR 7 L |
MBA/PGDM (1 course) | INR 7 L |
M.A. (1 course) | INR 16 L |
MPA (1 course) | INR 16 L |
Applicants who wish to enroll at WCU to study UG and PG degrees must meet the entry requirements for Western Carolina University admission. They also meet the WCU English requirements to complete the application. International students must have a high school or its equivalent degree to enroll at WCU UG degree and a bachelor’s degree to apply for Western Carolina graduate admission. Mentioned below are the Western Carolina University requirements for UG admissions:
WCU UG admission requirements:
- Submit an official high school transcript (or its equivalent) at the time of application and before WCU application deadlines.
- Students have the option to submit an ACT or SAT test score
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Application essay
- Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
WCUStudent profile
Others
83%
Hispanic
7%
Black
6%
Asian
1%
In state
80%
Out of state
19%
24 and under
78%
25 and over
21%
UG Number of Applicant
Overall Graduation Rate
UG Enrollment
PG Enrollment
Western Carolina University Notable Alumni
Western Carolina University has a remarkable alumni network that further adds to its rising popularity. It has proved conducive to launching the dreams of many notable personalities. Some of the well-known names include:
| Name of the Personality | Designation |
|---|---|
| Bobbi Baker | Actress |
| Dean Biasucci | Former Athlete |
| Sean Bridgers | Actor, Director, Producer & Writer |
| Rich Hall | Writer & Comedian |
| Jeanne Jolly | Song Writer & Singer |
| David Joy | Author |
| Tony Jones | Former Football Player |
| Kevin Martin | Retired Basketball Player |
| Mary Cordell Nesbitt | American Politician |
| Geno Segers | Actor & Former Rugby Player |
| Matt Stillwell | Country Musician |
| J. T. Poston | American Golfer |
| Henry Logan | Award-Winning Athlete |
College comparison
Compare WCU with other similar colleges
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| INR 7.66 L - 7.88 L | #257 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 9.14 L | -/- | |
| INR 7.28 L | -/- | |
| INR 6.4 L | #1401 QS, 2025 | |
| INR 5.26 L - 8.72 L | -/- | |
| INR 15.29 L - 15.78 L | -/- |
CompareWCUStudying in USA
Key Facts About USA
Insights on education, demographics & weather.
Western Carolina University Campus Life
The main campus of Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, USA. The university offers a great campus life to its students. Students here have varied options to participate in community building. The university has organisations and clubs, in which students can participate as per their interests. On top of this, students can participate in sports and join university teams. They can also access variety of resources and services at the campus such as library, recreation centres, sports complex, placement services, among others.
WCU FAQs
Western Carolina University is a moderately competitive university to get into, as its acceptance rate stands at 85%. This figure tells us that almost 85 out of every 100 applicants manage to get enrolled in the university, which is more than half of all the applicants. Therefore, once an applicant fulfills Western Carolina University admission requirements i.e.; competitive grades, standardized test scores, English language requirements as well as relevant documents, they are most likely to secure an admission in the university. However, students must not take this lightly and apply to the university within the deadlines in order to get enrolled as a student.
Western Carolina University is one of the best universities in USA and students across the world desire to study here. Listed below are some helpful tips for students starting their first semester in the university:
- Academic Routine: Build a practical routine for studies and make use of the academic resources offered by the university.
- Connect with Faculty: Students must build a healthy relationship with professors and is helpful with studies as well as job opportunities.
- Co-curricular Activities: Participate in events, clubs, trips, community organization, volunteering and more.
- Gym & Fitness: Fitness freaks can make use of the equipment at the university in order to build a healthy routine for themselves.
- Planning Finances: Since studying abroad is expensive, students must plan their budget and invest/spend their money mindfully while studying in the university.
WCU
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a year ago
Applicants can apply for WCU admission online through official website. Mentioned below is the Western Carolina University application process for UG admission:
WCU application process for UG admission:
Step 1: Create an account to submit your undergraduate application for admission
Step 2: Submit offi
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a year ago
Submitting ACT or SAT scores is optional for undergraduate admission at WCU. International First-year applicants have an option to submit either the SAT or the ACT score. The UNC Board of Governors voted to extend the current testing waiver for students applying for admissions through Fall 2024. The
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a year ago
The Western Carolina University application fee for UG and PG application is USD 65 or INR 5,415.78. International students who wish to study at the university must pay a non-refundable application fee.
(USD 1 = INR 83.32 as on 29-May-2024)
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a year ago
Western Carolina admission requirements varies as per the course or programme for International students. Mentioned below are the Western Carolina University requirements for International students:
WCU UG admission requirements:
- Submit an official high school transcript (or its equivalent) at the tim
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a year ago
WCU recieves 17,916 applications in 2022-23 which increases to 19,234 in 2023-24. Mentioned below are the Western Carolina University enrollment statistics for UG:
Particulars | Stats 2022-2023 | Stats 2023-2024 |
Application Received | 17,916 | 19,234 |
Admitted Students | 15,203 | 16,014 |
Acceptance Rate | 84.86% | 83.26% |
Contributor-Level 9
About the author
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WCULocation
| University City | Cullowhee, North Carolina, USA |
WCUCampuses
1 University Way, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723, United States
Visit official siteWCUContact Information
1 University Dr, Cullowhee, NC 28723, United States
Cullowhee ( North Carolina)
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