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  • Western Carolina University/
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Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina
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2021 Rankings for Western Carolina University

Learn how WCU ranks across all of College Factual's rankings including Best Colleges Nationwide, Best Colleges for Your Money, Best Colleges in North Carolina and the region, and Best Majors. You can select an alternate year 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

Top 2021 Rankings For Western Carolina University

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  • Best Value for Public Administration & Social Service (ranked 1 out of 323)
  • Best Value for Education (ranked 6 out of 594)
  • Best Value for Teacher Education Grade Specific (ranked 6 out of 517)
  • Best Value for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (ranked 7 out of 409)
  • Best Value for Business Administration & Management (ranked 15 out of 877)

A more complete picture of where Western Carolina University is the "best of the best" can be found on our 2021 Badges Awarded page.

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All 2021 Rankings For Western Carolina University

Learn more about our methodologies that drive these rankings.

  • Traditional Students
  • Student Athletes
  • Non-Traditional Students
  • Veterans
  • International
Top Quality Overall
better
worse
Nationwide
671 of 1715
Southeast
115 of 434
North Carolina
17 of 56
Best Colleges For The Money (all undergraduates)
better
worse
Nationwide
38 of 1473
Southeast
14 of 371
North Carolina
6 of 50
Best Colleges For The Money (undergraduates getting aid)
better
worse
Nationwide
47 of 1473
Southeast
14 of 371
North Carolina
6 of 50
Best Colleges For The Money (undergraduates getting no aid)
better
worse
Nationwide
27 of 1475
Southeast
8 of 370
North Carolina
7 of 50
Diversity
better
worse
Overall
1280 of 3514
Ethnic
 
2680 of 3790
Male / Female
690 of 3789
Location
1387 of 3515
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
419 of 651
Best Value
64 of 637
Most Popular
315 of 1720
Most Focused
 
953 of 1720
Highest Paid Grads
 
408 of 675
General Biology
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
373 of 630
Best Value
41 of 617
Most Popular
227 of 1638
Most Focused
692 of 1638
Highest Paid Grads
 
391 of 649
Business, Management & Marketing
better
worse
Top Ranked
449 of 1152
Best Value
26 of 1036
Most Popular
245 of 2852
Most Focused
722 of 2852
Highest Paid Grads
 
1109 of 1326
Accounting
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
309 of 521
Best Value
36 of 477
Most Popular
432 of 1854
Most Focused
 
1286 of 1854
Highest Paid Grads
 
501 of 602
Business Administration & Management
better
worse
Top Ranked
343 of 955
Best Value
15 of 877
Most Popular
267 of 2403
Most Focused
1128 of 2403
Highest Paid Grads
 
993 of 1083
Entrepreneurial Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
59 of 355
Most Focused
146 of 355
Finance & Financial Management
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
212 of 317
Best Value
27 of 304
Most Popular
174 of 713
Most Focused
270 of 713
Highest Paid Grads
 
290 of 328
Hospitality Management
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
81 of 120
Best Value
13 of 111
Most Popular
90 of 479
Most Focused
146 of 479
Highest Paid Grads
 
113 of 124
Management Information Systems
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
72 of 99
Best Value
14 of 92
Most Popular
114 of 385
Most Focused
 
217 of 385
Highest Paid Grads
 
100 of 110
Marketing
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
200 of 379
Best Value
13 of 358
Most Popular
91 of 910
Most Focused
99 of 910
Highest Paid Grads
 
335 of 401
Communication & Journalism
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
396 of 585
Best Value
80 of 567
Most Popular
453 of 1501
Most Focused
 
993 of 1501
Highest Paid Grads
 
504 of 657
Communication & Media Studies
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
351 of 504
Best Value
64 of 490
Most Popular
387 of 1242
Most Focused
 
823 of 1242
Highest Paid Grads
 
413 of 537
Radio, Television & Digital Communication
better
worse
Most Popular
166 of 383
Most Focused
 
280 of 383
Computer & Information Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
395 of 512
Best Value
92 of 448
Most Popular
978 of 2316
Most Focused
 
2063 of 2316
Highest Paid Grads
 
396 of 621
Computer Science
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
181 of 209
Best Value
65 of 200
Most Popular
287 of 778
Most Focused
 
584 of 778
Highest Paid Grads
 
190 of 217
Education
better
worse
Top Ranked
103 of 622
Best Value
6 of 594
Most Popular
103 of 1886
Most Focused
395 of 1885
Highest Paid Grads
246 of 694
Special Education
better
worse
Most Popular
157 of 485
Most Focused
 
271 of 485
Teacher Education Grade Specific
better
worse
Top Ranked
108 of 540
Best Value
6 of 517
Most Popular
69 of 1561
Most Focused
322 of 1560
Highest Paid Grads
221 of 585
Teacher Education Subject Specific
better
worse
Top Ranked
119 of 272
Best Value
13 of 265
Most Popular
147 of 895
Most Focused
392 of 895
Highest Paid Grads
87 of 302
Engineering
better
worse
Most Popular
374 of 998
Most Focused
 
535 of 998
Electrical Engineering
better
worse
Most Popular
 
248 of 390
Most Focused
 
277 of 390
General Engineering
better
worse
Most Popular
76 of 449
Most Focused
197 of 449
Engineering Technologies
better
worse
Top Ranked
31 of 87
Best Value
4 of 80
Most Popular
98 of 1178
Most Focused
374 of 1178
Highest Paid Grads
 
111 of 162
Construction Engineering Technology
better
worse
Most Popular
40 of 115
Most Focused
49 of 115
Highest Paid Grads
 
26 of 28
Electronics Engineering Technology
better
worse
Most Popular
106 of 434
Most Focused
 
274 of 434
General Engineering Technology
better
worse
Top Ranked
10 of 23
Best Value
1 of 20
Most Popular
10 of 158
Most Focused
31 of 158
Highest Paid Grads
 
17 of 25
English Language & Literature
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
341 of 430
Best Value
88 of 416
Most Popular
414 of 1549
Most Focused
 
977 of 1549
Highest Paid Grads
 
435 of 509
General English Literature
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
331 of 440
Best Value
67 of 426
Most Popular
324 of 1432
Most Focused
 
800 of 1432
Highest Paid Grads
 
405 of 467
Foreign Languages & Linguistics
better
worse
Most Popular
321 of 1114
Most Focused
534 of 1114
Romance Languages
better
worse
Most Popular
176 of 877
Most Focused
314 of 877
Health Professions
better
worse
Top Ranked
237 of 853
Best Value
13 of 751
Most Popular
232 of 2795
Most Focused
 
1424 of 2796
Highest Paid Grads
 
716 of 1050
Allied Health Professions
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
55 of 96
Best Value
8 of 91
Most Popular
105 of 1326
Most Focused
612 of 1325
Highest Paid Grads
 
81 of 122
Communication Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
75 of 281
Most Focused
79 of 281
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
27 of 36
Best Value
9 of 34
Most Popular
42 of 152
Most Focused
57 of 152
Highest Paid Grads
 
38 of 39
Nursing
better
worse
Top Ranked
328 of 723
Best Value
23 of 650
Most Popular
279 of 1977
Most Focused
 
1201 of 1978
Highest Paid Grads
 
663 of 840
Public Health
better
worse
Most Popular
181 of 396
Most Focused
 
275 of 396
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
24 of 37
Best Value
6 of 36
Most Popular
51 of 236
Most Focused
102 of 236
Highest Paid Grads
 
23 of 39
History
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
243 of 309
Best Value
49 of 302
Most Popular
379 of 1404
Most Focused
 
898 of 1404
Highest Paid Grads
 
279 of 331
History
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
245 of 313
Best Value
48 of 306
Most Popular
379 of 1404
Most Focused
 
898 of 1404
Highest Paid Grads
 
279 of 331
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
better
worse
Top Ranked
172 of 503
Best Value
11 of 445
Most Popular
172 of 1832
Most Focused
713 of 1831
Highest Paid Grads
256 of 617
Criminal Justice & Corrections
better
worse
Top Ranked
158 of 503
Best Value
9 of 446
Most Popular
144 of 1773
Most Focused
660 of 1773
Highest Paid Grads
239 of 605
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
better
worse
Most Popular
 
1413 of 2025
Most Focused
 
1806 of 2025
Liberal Arts General Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
 
1413 of 2025
Most Focused
 
1806 of 2025
Mathematics & Statistics
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
171 of 191
Best Value
63 of 188
Most Popular
389 of 1438
Most Focused
 
840 of 1438
Highest Paid Grads
 
170 of 201
Mathematics
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
156 of 176
Best Value
50 of 172
Most Popular
355 of 1382
Most Focused
 
738 of 1382
Highest Paid Grads
 
150 of 181
Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
 
944 of 1403
Most Focused
 
1274 of 1403
International Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
 
159 of 298
Most Focused
 
237 of 298
Natural Resources & Conservation
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
112 of 190
Best Value
18 of 184
Most Popular
213 of 940
Most Focused
441 of 940
Highest Paid Grads
90 of 198
Natural Resource Management
better
worse
Most Popular
31 of 95
Most Focused
45 of 95
Highest Paid Grads
 
11 of 19
Natural Resources Conservation
better
worse
Most Popular
362 of 834
Most Focused
 
617 of 834
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
better
worse
Top Ranked
92 of 417
Best Value
7 of 409
Most Popular
251 of 1220
Most Focused
 
681 of 1220
Highest Paid Grads
 
300 of 430
Health & Physical Education
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
251 of 394
Best Value
45 of 387
Most Popular
475 of 1131
Most Focused
 
895 of 1131
Highest Paid Grads
 
336 of 400
Recreation Administration
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
26 of 41
Best Value
7 of 40
Most Popular
28 of 113
Most Focused
46 of 113
Highest Paid Grads
 
26 of 45
Philosophy & Religious Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
454 of 1011
Most Focused
 
724 of 1011
Philosophy
better
worse
Most Popular
318 of 803
Most Focused
 
504 of 803
Physical Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
210 of 1382
Most Focused
414 of 1382
Chemistry
better
worse
Most Popular
80 of 1229
Most Focused
197 of 1229
Geological & Earth Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
183 of 489
Most Focused
219 of 489
Psychology
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
483 of 782
Best Value
63 of 748
Most Popular
355 of 1699
Most Focused
 
1069 of 1699
Highest Paid Grads
 
759 of 882
General Psychology
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
454 of 779
Best Value
49 of 744
Most Popular
317 of 1563
Most Focused
 
952 of 1563
Highest Paid Grads
 
699 of 814
Public Administration & Social Service
better
worse
Top Ranked
49 of 341
Best Value
1 of 323
Most Popular
83 of 1128
Most Focused
304 of 1128
Highest Paid Grads
52 of 374
Public Administration
better
worse
Top Ranked
12 of 30
Best Value
1 of 28
Most Popular
24 of 138
Most Focused
23 of 138
Highest Paid Grads
5 of 33
Social Work
better
worse
Top Ranked
118 of 274
Best Value
7 of 264
Most Popular
98 of 691
Most Focused
286 of 691
Highest Paid Grads
 
186 of 292
Social Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
382 of 558
Best Value
51 of 539
Most Popular
433 of 1548
Most Focused
 
844 of 1548
Highest Paid Grads
 
538 of 592
Anthropology
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
90 of 125
Best Value
13 of 123
Most Popular
50 of 542
Most Focused
47 of 542
Highest Paid Grads
36 of 128
Political Science & Government
better
worse
Most Popular
454 of 1220
Most Focused
 
880 of 1220
Sociology
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
266 of 356
Best Value
50 of 347
Most Popular
289 of 1100
Most Focused
 
555 of 1100
Highest Paid Grads
 
328 of 372
Visual & Performing Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked
194 of 510
Best Value
11 of 482
Most Popular
266 of 2021
Most Focused
645 of 2022
Highest Paid Grads
 
305 of 547
Design & Applied Arts
better
worse
Most Popular
348 of 961
Most Focused
 
674 of 961
Drama & Theater Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked
79 of 173
Best Value
9 of 168
Most Popular
111 of 968
Most Focused
227 of 968
Highest Paid Grads
 
100 of 179
Fine & Studio Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
222 of 332
Best Value
32 of 321
Most Popular
250 of 1368
Most Focused
599 of 1368
Highest Paid Grads
 
257 of 343
Music
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
77 of 143
Best Value
17 of 140
Most Popular
171 of 1238
Most Focused
406 of 1238
Highest Paid Grads
31 of 148
Men's Sports
better
worse
Men's Baseball (D1)
 
185 of 271
Men's Basketball (D1)
 
260 of 324
Men's Football (FCS)
 
91 of 117
Women's Sports
better
worse
Women's Basketball (D1)
 
266 of 324
Women's Soccer (D1)
 
246 of 306
Women's Softball (D1)
 
217 of 273
Women's Volleyball (D1)
 
249 of 307
Veterans
better
worse
Overall
161 of 2105
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
350 of 648
General Biology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
257 of 627
Business, Management & Marketing
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
433 of 1178
Accounting
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
351 of 527
Business Administration & Management
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
362 of 978
Finance & Financial Management
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
215 of 313
Hospitality Management
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
91 of 117
Management Information Systems
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
91 of 101
Marketing
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
155 of 381
Communication & Journalism
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
383 of 581
Communication & Media Studies
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
378 of 499
Computer & Information Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
451 of 525
Computer Science
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
189 of 208
Education
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
53 of 627
Teacher Education Grade Specific
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
64 of 543
Teacher Education Subject Specific
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
112 of 275
Engineering Technologies
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
26 of 84
General Engineering Technology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
13 of 20
English Language & Literature
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
354 of 423
General English Literature
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
340 of 432
Health Professions
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
174 of 874
Allied Health Professions
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
54 of 99
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
27 of 37
Nursing
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
309 of 744
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
25 of 37
History
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
267 of 304
History
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
265 of 308
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
220 of 515
Criminal Justice & Corrections
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
184 of 511
Mathematics & Statistics
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
181 of 190
Mathematics
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
163 of 174
Natural Resources & Conservation
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
72 of 188
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
72 of 414
Health & Physical Education
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
269 of 392
Recreation Administration
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
28 of 40
Psychology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
432 of 779
General Psychology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
394 of 775
Public Administration & Social Service
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
31 of 342
Public Administration
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
7 of 30
Social Work
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
115 of 275
Social Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
324 of 552
Anthropology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
72 of 121
Sociology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
282 of 351
Visual & Performing Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
121 of 508
Drama & Theater Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
50 of 171
Fine & Studio Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
212 of 331
Music
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
49 of 143
Non-Traditional Students
better
worse
Overall
285 of 2186
Business, Management & Marketing
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
397 of 962
Top Ranked Online
148 of 474
Most Popular Online
112 of 1162
Business Administration & Management
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
344 of 835
Top Ranked Online
99 of 380
Most Popular Online
111 of 933
Finance & Financial Management
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
 
181 of 271
Top Ranked Online
12 of 28
Most Popular Online
11 of 79
Marketing
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
133 of 334
Top Ranked Online
15 of 55
Most Popular Online
51 of 189
Education
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
53 of 572
Top Ranked Online
19 of 103
Most Popular Online
80 of 312
Teacher Education Grade Specific
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
64 of 501
Top Ranked Online
9 of 60
Most Popular Online
58 of 220
Health Professions
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
169 of 745
Top Ranked Online
126 of 439
Most Popular Online
136 of 924
Allied Health Professions
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
 
52 of 93
Top Ranked Online
15 of 32
Most Popular Online
20 of 99
Nursing
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
310 of 640
Top Ranked Online
141 of 345
Most Popular Online
141 of 532
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
208 of 459
Top Ranked Online
67 of 212
Most Popular Online
75 of 601
Criminal Justice & Corrections
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
181 of 453
Top Ranked Online
53 of 206
Most Popular Online
63 of 553
Public Administration & Social Service
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
35 of 328
Top Ranked Online
10 of 56
Most Popular Online
70 of 185
Public Administration
better
worse
Best for Non-Traditional Students
9 of 30
Top Ranked Online
 
4 of 7
Most Popular Online
6 of 34
International Quality
better
worse
OVERALL
 
661 of 1232
Canada
 
501 of 691
Japan
 
379 of 449
Saudi Arabia
 
382 of 551
International Value
better
worse
OVERALL
49 of 1204
Canada
157 of 677
Japan
131 of 441
Saudi Arabia
95 of 540
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