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Academics

Western Carolina University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Western Carolina University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

11:1
Student to faculty ratio
27
Average class size

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Western Carolina has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
171
10-19
302
20-29
415
30-39
256
40-49
203
50-99
41
100+
8

Honors Programs

Western Carolina University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Western Carolina's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Western Carolina University:

75%
First-year retention rate
59%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Western Carolina University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Business Administration and Management, General
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
121.6
144.88
168.16
191.44
214.72
238

The Full List

Major Graduates
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 78
Business
  • Business Administration and Management, General 225
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 65
  • Finance, General 57
  • Marketing, Other 55
  • Accounting 40
  • Management Information Systems, General 36
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General 29
  • Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 8
Communication
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 58
  • Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other 18
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer Science 22
Education
  • Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching 67
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 58
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 44
  • Special Education and Teaching, General 19
  • Music Teacher Education 17
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 12
  • Art Teacher Education 6
  • English/Language Arts Teacher Education 6
  • Social Studies Teacher Education 5
  • Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education 4
  • Mathematics Teacher Education 3
  • Spanish Language Teacher Education 0
Engineering
  • Engineering, General 45
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 17
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Construction Engineering Technology/Technician 48
  • Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General 44
  • Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General 44
  • ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS 44
  • Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician 15
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 46
Foreign Languages
  • Spanish Language and Literature 11
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 238
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 141
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 141
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS 141
  • Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) 59
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 37
  • Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy 25
  • Dietetics/Dietitian 13
  • Environmental Health 9
  • Athletic Training/Trainer 0
  • Health/Health Care Administration/Management 0
History
  • History, General 44
Homeland Security
  • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 143
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 4
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 20
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • International/Globalization Studies 10
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 29
  • Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General 23
Parks
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 36
  • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General 31
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 12
Physical Sciences
  • Forensic Chemistry 29
  • Chemistry, General 13
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 8
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 136
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Public Administration 107
  • Social Work 50
Social Sciences
  • Anthropology, General 39
  • Political Science and Government, General 22
  • Sociology, General 16
  • Applied Economics 0
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 37
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 30
  • Music Performance, General 29
  • Interior Design 23
  • Music, General 6
  • Art/Art Studies, General 5

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