Top 2018 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 2018 Badges Awarded page.
All 2018 Rankings For Western Carolina University
Learn more about our methodologies that drive these rankings.
Top Quality Overall
better worse | |
| Nationwide | |
| Southeast | 168 of 353 |
| North Carolina | 24 of 49 |
Best Colleges For The Money (all undergraduates)
better worse | |
| Nationwide | 452 of 1325 |
| Southeast | 107 of 343 |
| North Carolina | 13 of 47 |
Best Colleges For The Money (undergraduates getting aid)
better worse | |
| Nationwide | 453 of 1325 |
| Southeast | 104 of 343 |
| North Carolina | 16 of 47 |
Best Colleges For The Money (undergraduates getting no aid)
better worse | |
| Nationwide | 236 of 1325 |
| Southeast | 56 of 343 |
| North Carolina | 11 of 47 |
Diversity
better worse | |
| Overall | |
| Ethnic | |
| Male / Female | 539 of 2594 |
| Location |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 320 of 805 |
| Most Popular | 375 of 1413 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
General Biology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 277 of 800 |
| Most Popular | 283 of 1372 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Business, Management & Marketing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 203 of 798 |
| Most Popular | 310 of 2041 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Accounting
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 230 of 584 |
| Most Popular | 442 of 1312 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Business Administration & Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 165 of 701 |
| Most Popular | 529 of 1720 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Entrepreneurial Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 21 of 56 |
| Most Popular | 27 of 203 |
| Most Focused | 65 of 203 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Finance & Financial Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 139 of 376 |
| Most Popular | 277 of 642 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Hospitality Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 40 of 114 |
| Most Popular | 82 of 258 |
| Most Focused | 99 of 258 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Management Information Systems
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 49 of 141 |
| Most Popular | 80 of 348 |
| Most Focused | 104 of 348 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Marketing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 98 of 394 |
| Most Popular | 108 of 769 |
| Most Focused | 105 of 769 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Communication & Journalism
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 443 of 1219 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Communication & Media Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 363 of 1036 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Radio, Television & Digital Communication
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Computer & Information Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 782 of 1603 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Computer Science
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 262 of 599 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Education
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 166 of 409 |
| Most Popular | 69 of 1366 |
| Most Focused | 200 of 1366 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Special Education
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 169 of 435 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Teacher Education Grade Specific
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 45 of 1169 |
| Most Focused | 169 of 1169 |
Teacher Education Subject Specific
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 156 of 342 |
| Most Popular | 87 of 864 |
| Most Focused | 240 of 864 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Engineering
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
Electrical Engineering
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 120 of 255 |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Engineering Technologies
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 61 of 459 |
| Most Focused | 151 of 459 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Construction Engineering Technology
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 32 of 64 |
| Most Focused | 28 of 64 |
Electronics Engineering Technology
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 83 of 168 |
| Most Focused |
General Engineering Technology
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 5 of 73 |
| Most Focused | 12 of 73 |
English Language & Literature
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 289 of 596 |
| Most Popular | 355 of 1360 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
General English Literature
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 255 of 609 |
| Most Popular | 285 of 1281 |
| Most Focused | 633 of 1281 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Foreign Languages & Linguistics
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 368 of 939 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Romance Languages
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 238 of 817 |
| Most Focused | 402 of 817 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Health Professions
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 265 of 582 |
| Best Value | 55 of 562 |
| Most Popular | 218 of 1704 |
| Most Focused | 776 of 1704 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Allied Health Professions
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 94 of 671 |
| Most Focused | 282 of 671 |
Communication Sciences
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 58 of 128 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Nursing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 162 of 497 |
| Most Popular | 233 of 1124 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Public Health
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 41 of 96 |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 44 of 194 |
| Most Focused | 80 of 194 |
History
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 243 of 553 |
| Most Popular | 265 of 1261 |
| Most Focused | 588 of 1261 |
History
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 256 of 577 |
| Most Popular | 265 of 1261 |
| Most Focused | 588 of 1261 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 130 of 380 |
| Most Popular | 132 of 1128 |
| Most Focused | 512 of 1128 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Criminal Justice & Corrections
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 111 of 382 |
| Most Popular | 121 of 1103 |
| Most Focused | 500 of 1103 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
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 | |
| Most Popular | 403 of 1231 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Mathematics
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 356 of 1178 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
International Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 97 of 259 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Natural Resources & Conservation
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 136 of 745 |
| Most Focused | 266 of 745 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Natural Resource Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 22 of 70 |
| Most Focused | 22 of 70 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Natural Resources Conservation
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 265 of 689 |
| Most Focused |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 132 of 445 |
| Most Popular | 280 of 890 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Health & Physical Education
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Recreation Administration
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 42 of 98 |
| Most Focused |
Philosophy & Religious Studies
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 415 of 956 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Philosophy
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 270 of 756 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Physical Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 276 of 1143 |
| Most Focused | 501 of 1143 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Chemistry
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 176 of 403 |
| Most Popular | 145 of 1087 |
| Most Focused | 313 of 1087 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Geological & Earth Sciences
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Psychology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 300 of 807 |
| Most Popular | 350 of 1492 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
General Psychology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 262 of 813 |
| Most Popular | 322 of 1407 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Public Administration & Social Service
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 192 of 406 |
| Best Value | 29 of 400 |
| Most Popular | 57 of 862 |
| Most Focused | 197 of 862 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Public Administration
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 14 of 42 |
| Most Popular | 26 of 150 |
| Most Focused | 23 of 150 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Social Work
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 113 of 361 |
| Most Popular | 65 of 576 |
| Most Focused | 209 of 576 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Social Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 232 of 661 |
| Most Popular | 376 of 1317 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Anthropology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 119 of 268 |
| Most Popular | 72 of 422 |
| Most Focused | 76 of 422 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Political Science & Government
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 254 of 582 |
| Most Popular | 460 of 1081 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Sociology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 196 of 517 |
| Most Popular | 200 of 969 |
| Most Focused | 376 of 969 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Visual & Performing Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 145 of 615 |
| Most Popular | 285 of 1529 |
| Most Focused | 614 of 1529 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Design & Applied Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 307 of 653 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Drama & Theater Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 76 of 299 |
| Most Popular | 199 of 809 |
| Most Focused | 337 of 809 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Fine & Studio Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 163 of 498 |
| Most Popular | 231 of 1114 |
| Most Focused | 479 of 1114 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Music
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 148 of 368 |
| Most Popular | 124 of 1030 |
| Most Focused | 307 of 1030 |
| Highest Paid Grads |
Men's Sports
better worse | |
| Men's Baseball (D1) | |
| Men's Basketball (D1) | |
| Men's Football (FCS) |
Women's Sports
better worse | |
| Women's Basketball (D1) | |
| Women's Soccer (D1) | |
| Women's Softball (D1) | |
| Women's Volleyball (D1) |
Veterans
better worse | |
| Overall | 396 of 1423 |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
General Biology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 391 of 829 |
Business, Management & Marketing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 385 of 861 |
Accounting
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Business Administration & Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 308 of 759 |
Entrepreneurial Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
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 | 201 of 414 |
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 |
Special Education
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Teacher Education Subject Specific
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Engineering
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Electrical Engineering
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
English Language & Literature
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
General English Literature
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Foreign Languages & Linguistics
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Romance Languages
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Health Professions
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 125 of 606 |
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Nursing
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Public Health
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
History
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
History
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Criminal Justice & Corrections
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Mathematics & Statistics
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Mathematics
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
International Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Natural Resources & Conservation
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Natural Resource Management
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 145 of 459 |
Health & Physical Education
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Physical Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Chemistry
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Psychology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
General Psychology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 420 of 848 |
Public Administration & Social Service
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 65 of 410 |
Public Administration
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Social Work
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 179 of 369 |
Social Sciences
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Anthropology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Political Science & Government
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Sociology
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Visual & Performing Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 271 of 648 |
Design & Applied Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Drama & Theater Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 116 of 309 |
Fine & Studio Arts
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Music
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
Non-Traditional Students
better worse | |
| Overall | 301 of 1164 |
Business, Management & Marketing
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | 319 of 658 |
| Top Ranked Online | |
| Most Popular Online |
Marketing
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | 138 of 336 |
| Top Ranked Online | 20 of 44 |
| Most Popular Online | 34 of 155 |
Education
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | |
| Top Ranked Online | |
| Most Popular Online | 49 of 194 |
Teacher Education Grade Specific
better worse | |
| Most Popular Online | 31 of 129 |
Health Professions
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | 117 of 512 |
| Top Ranked Online | 104 of 264 |
| Most Popular Online | 125 of 682 |
Allied Health Professions
better worse | |
| Most Popular Online | 23 of 64 |
Nursing
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | |
| Top Ranked Online | |
| Most Popular Online | 114 of 437 |
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | |
| Top Ranked Online | |
| Most Popular Online | 61 of 413 |
Criminal Justice & Corrections
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | |
| Top Ranked Online | |
| Most Popular Online | 54 of 385 |
Public Administration & Social Service
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | 57 of 344 |
| Top Ranked Online | 15 of 31 |
| Most Popular Online | 42 of 153 |
Public Administration
better worse | |
| Best for Non-Traditional Students | |
| Top Ranked Online | |
| Most Popular Online | 8 of 45 |
International Quality
better worse | |
| OVERALL | |
| Jamaica | |
| Saudi Arabia |
International Value
better worse | |
| OVERALL | 313 of 1148 |
| Jamaica | 9 of 122 |
| Saudi Arabia | 156 of 539 |
