More selective than 24% of North Carolina colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
9% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 23% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Western Carolina University over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What Western Carolina University weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Western Carolina University reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- Class rank
- High school GPA
- SAT/ACT scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- Work experience
- Your demonstrated interest
- Interview
- First-generation college student
- Where you live
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Religious affiliation
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
High school GPA of Western Carolina University first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.45. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
100% of first-year students reported a high school GPA.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Western Carolina University SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Western Carolina University is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 560 | 660 |
| SAT math | 520 | 610 |
| ACT composite | 19 | 25 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1080 | 1270 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Western Carolina University admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 82% | 560–660 | 520–610 | 19–25 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 87% | 540–650 | 510–610 | 20–26 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Western Carolina University compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Western Carolina University has the 43rd-lowest acceptance rate of 56 North Carolina colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte | 80% | 49% | $27,426 |
| 40 | Guilford College | 80% | 46% | $22,270 |
| 41 | Shaw University | 80% | 22% | $16,512 |
| 42 | North Carolina Wesleyan University | 80% | 42% | $17,432 |
| 43 | Western Carolina University | 82% | 60% | $13,315 |
| 44 | Fayetteville State University | 82% | 38% | $7,892 |
| 45 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 85% | 48% | $20,689 |
| 46 | North Carolina Central University | 87% | 42% | $15,359 |
| 47 | Campbell University | 87% | 61% | $24,516 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All North Carolina colleges →
Who enrolls at Western Carolina University
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Western Carolina University admissions questions
What is the Western Carolina University acceptance rate?
Western Carolina University accepts 82% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 15,758 of 18,183 applicants were admitted.
Does Western Carolina University require the SAT or ACT?
Western Carolina University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 9% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 23% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Western Carolina University?
The middle 50% of Western Carolina University enrolled first-year students scored 1080–1270 on the SAT and 19–25 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Western Carolina University?
13% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (2,103 of 15,758).
What does Western Carolina University look for in applicants?
Western Carolina University reports these as very important for first-year applicants: rigor of high school courses, class rank, high school GPA, sAT/ACT scores. Important: essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, character and personal qualities, work experience, your demonstrated interest. Considered: interview, first-generation college student, where you live, state residency, volunteer work. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Does Western Carolina University have early decision?
No. Western Carolina University does not offer binding early decision (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Is Western Carolina University getting harder to get into?
Western Carolina University accepted 82% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 87% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Western Carolina University's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Western Carolina University overview