Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina, which operates a total of ten campuses. It was established in 1889 and is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the University of North Carolina system. The university was originally founded to teach students living in the mountains of western North Carolina. It now serves students from 48 states and over 35 countries. Annual enrollment exceeds 11,000 students. The university is in Jackson County, in the valley of the Tuckasegee River, which is about 52 miles west of Asheville and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Nursing programs are taught at the WCU School of Nursing. CCNE-accredited programs at WCU include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, and MSN programs. Students enrolled in the traditional BSN program complete their liberal arts education during their freshman and sophomore years before starting their nursing curriculum. During the last two years, students also complete clinical experiences at healthcare agencies located throughout the western North Carolina region. The accelerated BSN program is designed for working nurses and includes both online courses and traditional classroom learning. This program should be completed in just four semesters.
Institution Overview
| Campus LocaleDistant Town |
| Number of Students11,034 |
| Student to Faculty Ratio17:1 |
| Is Admission OpenNo |
| Religious Affiliation - |
| Level4-year |
| TypePublic |
| On Campus HousingYes |
| Retention Rate79% |
Nursing Programs
Nursing Programs Graduates (2017-2018 academic year)
| Number of Graduates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Degree type | Men | Women |
| Bachelor's degree | 0 | 0 |
| Master's degree | 0 | 0 |
| Postbaccalaureate certificate | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor's degree - professional practice | 0 | 0 |
Compare Schools
Nursing schools located within 92 miles radius of Western Carolina University
|
Clemson University
48 miles away |
|
Blount Memorial Hospital
53 miles away |
|
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
61 miles away |
|
Tennessee Technology Center at Greeneville
64 miles away |
|
University of North Georgia
70 miles away |
|
University of South Carolina-Upstate
72 miles away |
|
Tennessee Technology Center at Tazewell
82 miles away |
|
East Tennessee State University
82 miles away |
|
Cherokee Technology Center
91 miles away |
|
Tennessee Technology Center at Kingsport
92 miles away |
Frequently compared schools
|
California State University-Fresno
offers 4 nursing programs |
|
Central Connecticut State University
offers 2 nursing programs |
|
Eastern Illinois University
offers 2 nursing programs |
|
Kennesaw State University
offers 8 nursing programs |
|
Western Illinois University
offers 2 nursing programs |
|
Morehead State University
offers 4 nursing programs |
|
Murray State University
offers 4 nursing programs |
|
Pittsburg State University
offers 4 nursing programs |
|
Saint Cloud State University
offers 2 nursing programs |
|
Salisbury University
offers 6 nursing programs |
Accreditations
Institutional Accreditations
|
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges 01/01/1946 - Current |
Nursing Programs Accreditations
|
Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels CCNE 04/20/2002 - Current |
|
Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the graduate degree levels CCNE 04/20/2002 - Current |
|
Nurse Anesthesia (ANEST) - Institutions and programs at the master's degree, post master's certificate or doctoral degree levels COA 10/14/2006 - Current |
|
Nurse Anesthesia (ANEST) - Institutions and programs at the master's degree, post master's certificate or doctoral degree levels COA 10/14/2006 - Current |
Admission
39%
Acceptance RateEnrolled students test score (Fall 2017)
| SAT | 1020 to 1200 |
| ACT | 19 to 24 |
Admission considerations
| Secondary school GPA Required |
| Secondary school rank Recommended |
| Secondary school record Required |
| Completion of college-preparatory program Required |
| Recommendations Considered but not required |
| Formal demonstration of competencies Neither required nor recommended |
| Admission test scores (SAT/ACT) Required |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Required |
| Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) Neither required nor recommended |
In addition to the college's admission requirements each nursing program might have its own admission criteria (such as: TEAS score, HESI A2 score, nursing prerequisites GPA, etc).
Application fee
| Undergrads | $65 |
| Graduates | $65 |
Cost to Attend
The following table details the reported cost of attendance per credit hour for the 2017-2018 academic year.
| Undergrad courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| In District Students | $277/credit | |
| In State Students | $277/credit | |
| Out of State Students | $676/credit | |
| Graduate courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| In District Students | $404/credit | |
| In State Students | $404/credit | |
| Out of State Students | $1,187/credit | |
Tuition Estimates
Based on the above credit hour costs, here is a sample tuition for different nursing programs.
| Program | Credit Hours | In district | In State | Out of State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPN | 45 | $12,465 | $12,465 | $30,420 |
| ADN | 70 | $19,390 | $19,390 | $47,320 |
| BSN | 125 | $34,625 | $34,625 | $84,500 |
| FNP | 50 | $20,200 | $20,200 | $59,350 |
If you attend a private, for-profit school, usually the additional cost (besides tuition) is about 10% of the tuition. If you attend a public school or a not-for-profit private school, the additional cost is around 50% of the tuition.
Financial Aid
In 2017-2018 academic year, 86% of Western Carolina University's students received financial aid. Below is the breakdown of the financial aid provided to students.
| Students Receiving Aid | Average Amount/Student | |
|---|---|---|
| Pell Grant | 42% | $4,343 |
| Other Federal Grant | 6% | $1,009 |
| State Grant & Scholarships | 42% | $2,968 |
| Institutional Grant & Scholarships | 68% | $2,226 |
| Federal Student Loans | 67% | $5,732 |
| Private Loans | 3% | $11,353 |
$14,456
Average Net PriceAverage Net Price by Family Income
| Less than $30,000$10,670 |
| $30,001 to $48,000$12,550 |
| $48,001 to $75,000$16,474 |
| $75,001 to $110,000$18,970 |
| Over $110,000$20,093 |
Calculate your net price
Student Population
9,406
Undergrads
1,628
Graduates
6,289
Women
4,745
Men
80%
Full-time
20%
Par-time
Ethnic Diversity
|
White |
79% |
|
Hispanic |
6% |
|
Black/African American |
6% |
|
Two or more races |
4% |
|
Non-resident alien |
2% |
|
Asian |
1% |
|
Race/ethnicity unknown |
1% |
|
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander |
0% |
Relevant scholarships
- North Carolina Masters Nurse Scholars Program, Graduate Program
- North Carolina Nurse Education Scholarship-Loan Program
- Virginia Elizabeth and Alma Vane Taylor Nursing Scholarship
- Ann Mabe Newman and William G. Newman Nursing Scholarship
- Carol Ann Beerstecher Nursing Scholarship
More scholarships
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Data source: https://nces.ed.gov (2017-2018 colleges survey) and North Carolina state board of nursing.
