Top 2021 Rankings For Western Carolina University
A more complete picture of where Western Carolina University is the "best of the best" can be found on our 2021 Badges Awarded page.
All 2021 Rankings For Western Carolina University
Learn more about our methodologies that drive these rankings.
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 | |
| Male / Female | 690 of 3789 |
| Location | 1387 of 3515 |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 64 of 637 |
| Most Popular | 315 of 1720 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
General Biology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 41 of 617 |
| Most Popular | 227 of 1638 |
| Most Focused | 692 of 1638 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
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 |
Accounting
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 36 of 477 |
| Most Popular | 432 of 1854 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
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 |
Entrepreneurial Studies
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 59 of 355 |
| Most Focused | 146 of 355 |
Finance & Financial Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 27 of 304 |
| Most Popular | 174 of 713 |
| Most Focused | 270 of 713 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Hospitality Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 13 of 111 |
| Most Popular | 90 of 479 |
| Most Focused | 146 of 479 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Management Information Systems
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 14 of 92 |
| Most Popular | 114 of 385 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Marketing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 13 of 358 |
| Most Popular | 91 of 910 |
| Most Focused | 99 of 910 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Communication & Journalism
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 80 of 567 |
| Most Popular | 453 of 1501 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Communication & Media Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 64 of 490 |
| Most Popular | 387 of 1242 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Radio, Television & Digital Communication
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 166 of 383 |
| Most Focused |
Computer & Information Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 92 of 448 |
| Most Popular | 978 of 2316 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Computer Science
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 65 of 200 |
| Most Popular | 287 of 778 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
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 |
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 |
Electrical Engineering
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
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 |
Construction Engineering Technology
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 40 of 115 |
| Most Focused | 49 of 115 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Electronics Engineering Technology
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 106 of 434 |
| Most Focused |
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 |
English Language & Literature
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 88 of 416 |
| Most Popular | 414 of 1549 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
General English Literature
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 67 of 426 |
| Most Popular | 324 of 1432 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
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 | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Allied Health Professions
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 8 of 91 |
| Most Popular | 105 of 1326 |
| Most Focused | 612 of 1325 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Communication Sciences
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 75 of 281 |
| Most Focused | 79 of 281 |
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 9 of 34 |
| Most Popular | 42 of 152 |
| Most Focused | 57 of 152 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Nursing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 328 of 723 |
| Best Value | 23 of 650 |
| Most Popular | 279 of 1977 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Public Health
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 181 of 396 |
| Most Focused |
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 6 of 36 |
| Most Popular | 51 of 236 |
| Most Focused | 102 of 236 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
History
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 49 of 302 |
| Most Popular | 379 of 1404 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
History
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 48 of 306 |
| Most Popular | 379 of 1404 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
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 | |
| Most Focused |
Liberal Arts General Studies
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
Mathematics & Statistics
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 63 of 188 |
| Most Popular | 389 of 1438 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Mathematics
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 50 of 172 |
| Most Popular | 355 of 1382 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
International Studies
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
Natural Resources & Conservation
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| 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 |
Natural Resources Conservation
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 362 of 834 |
| Most Focused |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 92 of 417 |
| Best Value | 7 of 409 |
| Most Popular | 251 of 1220 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Health & Physical Education
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 45 of 387 |
| Most Popular | 475 of 1131 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Recreation Administration
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 7 of 40 |
| Most Popular | 28 of 113 |
| Most Focused | 46 of 113 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Philosophy & Religious Studies
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 454 of 1011 |
| Most Focused |
Philosophy
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 318 of 803 |
| Most Focused |
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 | |
| Best Value | 63 of 748 |
| Most Popular | 355 of 1699 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
General Psychology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 49 of 744 |
| Most Popular | 317 of 1563 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
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 |
Social Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 51 of 539 |
| Most Popular | 433 of 1548 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Anthropology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| 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 |
Sociology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 50 of 347 |
| Most Popular | 289 of 1100 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
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 |
Design & Applied Arts
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 348 of 961 |
| Most Focused |
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 |
Fine & Studio Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 32 of 321 |
| Most Popular | 250 of 1368 |
| Most Focused | 599 of 1368 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Music
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| 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) | |
| Men's Basketball (D1) | |
| Men's Football (FCS) |
Veterans
better worse | |
| Overall | 161 of 2105 |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
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 |
Business Administration & Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 362 of 978 |
Finance & Financial Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Hospitality Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Management Information Systems
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Marketing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 155 of 381 |
Communication & Journalism
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Communication & Media Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Computer & Information Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Computer Science
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
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 |
English Language & Literature
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
General English Literature
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Health Professions
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 174 of 874 |
Allied Health Professions
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Nursing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 309 of 744 |
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
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 |
Mathematics
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
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 |
Recreation Administration
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Psychology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
General Psychology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
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 |
Anthropology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Sociology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
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 |
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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Most Popular Online | 6 of 34 |
International Quality
better worse | |
| OVERALL | |
| Canada | |
| Japan | |
| Saudi Arabia |
International Value
better worse | |
| OVERALL | 49 of 1204 |
| Canada | 157 of 677 |
| Japan | 131 of 441 |
| Saudi Arabia | 95 of 540 |
