| Western Carolina vs. Mercer |
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
#30 in Federal Region IV Universities #14 in North Carolina Colleges | Rankings* | #262 in National Universities #14 in Georgia Colleges |
| Public, four-years Doctoral/Research University | School Type | Private (not-for-profit), four-years Research University (high research activity) |
| Offered Degrees | ||
| Bachelor's Post-BS Certificate Master's Post-MS Certificate Doctorate (Research) Doctorate (Professional Practice) | Offered Degree | Bachelor's Post-BS Certificate Master's Post-MS Certificate Doctorate (Research) Doctorate (Professional Practice) Doctorate (Other) |
| 2025 Tuition & Fees | ||
| cheaper$4,630 North Carolina Residents $8,630 Out-of-State | Undergraduate Tuition | expensive$31,565 |
| expensive$7,876 North Carolina Residents $18,595 Out-of-State | Graduate Tuition | cheaper$14,971 |
| Less$4,565 | Average Financial Aid Amount | More$24,439 |
| Admission | ||
| Lower1,180 SAT 23 ACT | Test Scores | Higher1,250 SAT 28 ACT |
| Easier81.83% | Acceptance Rate | Tighter68.89% |
| Lower12.70% | Yield (Enrollment Rate) | Favorable12.71% |
| High School GPA High School Rank High School Record Completion of College Preparatory Program Recommendations Admission Test Scores English Proficiency Test Work experience Personal statement or essay | Application Requirements (Required or Considered) | High School GPA High School Rank High School Record Completion of College Preparatory Program Recommendations Admission Test Scores English Proficiency Test Work experience Personal statement or essay |
| Dual Credits Advanced placement (AP) Credits Credits for Life Experiences Credit for Military Training | Accepted Credits | Dual Credits Advanced placement (AP) Credits Credit for Military Training |
| Enrollment | ||
| Larger11,686 | Total Enrollment | Smaller9,196 |
| Larger10,112 | Undergraduate Student Population | Smaller4,690 |
| Smaller1,574 | Graduate Student Population | Larger4,506 |
| Larger2,836 | Online Student Population | Smaller2,029 |
| Completion & Outcomes | ||
| Lower60% | Graduate Rate | Higher70% |
| Higher27% | Transfer-out Rate | Lower16% |
| Lower79% | Retention Rate | Higher82% |
| Special Learning Opportunity | ||
| Study Abroad Teacher Certificate | Special learning Opportunity | ROTC Study Abroad Evening/Weekend College Teacher Certificate |
| ✔ (Dormitory Capacity: 4,347) | Campus Housing | ✔ (Dormitory Capacity: 3,010) |
| ✔ (Typical Annual Charge: $5,029) | Board/Meal Plan | ✔ (Typical Annual Charge: $7,118) |
| Faculty | ||
| More Students per Faculty16 to 1 | Student to Faculty Ratio | Less Students per Faculty11 to 1 |
| 769 | Number of faculty | 737 |
| Lower$81,749 | Average Faculty Salary | Higher$86,127 |
*Ranking data is from College Evaluator.