Home
Colleges
Western Carolina University
Admissions

Western Carolina University
Admissions

Interested in attending Western Carolina University?

On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into Western Carolina University, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.

81
%
Acceptance rate
February 1
Regular admission deadline

Admission Rates

Is it difficult to get into Western Carolina University?

81%

Using the most up-to-date data on record, Western Carolina accepted 81% of applicants. We classify this as less selective.

In the most recent year, 19,728 people applied and 16,138 were accepted.

Accepted/Applied
Women
9989 / 11902 (84%)
Men
6149 / 7826 (79%)

Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 3 years at Western Carolina University:

100%
92.0
84.0
76.0
68.0
60.0
2023
2024
2025

Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.

13%
Enrollment of those accepted
Low
Yield rate

Of those accepted, 13% ended up enrolling at Western Carolina University, making their yield rate Low. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.

Application Factors

You can increase your chances of getting into Western Carolina University by looking at what the school considers during the application process.

Here are the things Western Carolina considers:

Very Important

  • Academic GPA
  • Class Rank
  • Rigor of Secondary School Record
  • Standardized Test Scores

Important

  • Application Essay
  • Character/Personal Qualities
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Level of Applicant's Interest
  • Recommendation(s)
  • Talent/Ability
  • Work Experience

Considered

  • First Generation
  • Geographical Residence
  • Interview
  • State Residency
  • Volunteer Work

Not Considered

  • Alumni/AE Relation
  • Religious Affiliation/Commitment

Grades & Testing

Do you have the grades and test scores to get into Western Carolina University?

Grades

15% of freshmen who attended Western Carolina were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class, and 39% were in the top 25% of their graduating high school class.

Applicants submitting SAT Scores

9%

Applicants submitting ACT Scores

23%
SAT Math Scores
25th Percentile
520
75th Percentile
610
SAT Verb Scores
25th Percentile
560
75th Percentile
660
SAT Composite Scores
25th Percentile
1075
75th Percentile
1260

Application Deadlines

These are the deadlines for applying to Western Carolina University. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.

Regular Admissions

February 1
Regular admission deadline
September 1
Application notification
Mistakes were made
(But not by you!)

These are the top 10 mistakes people make when searching for colleges

Top Ten Mistakes

CollegeIQ® relies on data from government and private resources. Always confer with the individual college or university for the most recent data. Learn more about our data and methodology.

© 2025 Whittier Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service