CULLOWHEE, NC · PUBLIC
Western Carolina University reported a $13,315 average net price, a completion rate of 59.7%, $54,667 median earnings four years after completion, and $21,868 median federal debt among completers in the June 2026 College Scorecard release.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College ScorecardPage compiled September 16, 2026Download source data ↗
01 · Earnings after completion
Western Carolina University’s median earnings were $54,667 four years after completion and $51,153 five years after completion, based on 2,644 and 2,191 working graduates, respectively.
The red marker shows the federal earnings threshold where available. Earnings cover graduates who were working and not enrolled; they do not include every former student.
02 · Cost after grant aid
Western Carolina University reported a $13,315 average net price. Published lower-income figures were $8,816 for households below $30,001 and $10,012 for households from $30,001 to $48,000.
| Federal income band | Average net price |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $8,816 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $10,012 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $12,605 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $17,060 |
| $110,001+ | $17,992 |
Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grant and scholarship aid for the defined cohort. Your actual price depends on the institution’s aid offer.
03 · Student progress and aid
Western Carolina University reported a completion rate of 59.7%, a retention rate of 77.4%, a Pell-recipient share of 34.6%, and a federal-loan share of 44.2%.
These percentages have different denominators. Completion and retention describe first-time student cohorts; Pell and federal-loan shares describe undergraduate aid receipt.
04 · Federal student debt
Median federal debt among Western Carolina University completers was $21,868 across 2,771 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
$21,868
Borrower repayment progress after four years: 28.0% across a reported cohort of 2,317 undergraduate completers.
05 · Field-of-study evidence
11 Western Carolina University programs met this site’s evidence threshold, including Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General, and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.
A program page requires at least 75 working graduates plus published four-year earnings and median debt. This is our evidence threshold, not a federal rating.
06 · Nearby comparison set
This report lists 6 other public institutions in North Carolina that match Western Carolina University on state and control type; the set is not ranked.
Answers at a glance
The Western Carolina University FAQ reports $13,315 average net price, $54,667 four-year median earnings, and $21,868 median federal debt.
The reported average net price was $13,315 for the applicable Title IV student cohort. It is a cohort average, not an individual aid offer.
Western Carolina University’s median earnings were $54,667 four years after completion and $51,153 five years after completion, based on 2,644 and 2,191 working graduates, respectively.
Median federal debt among Western Carolina University completers was $21,868 across 2,771 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
