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# Schools Similar to Western Carolina University

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/western-carolina-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/western-carolina-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/western-carolina-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/western-carolina-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/western-carolina-university/majors/)Similar schools

**On this page**+

## Compare alternatives to Western Carolina University

-   [Similar admissions profiles](#similar-admissions) · 5 matches
-   [Higher admission rates](#higher-admission) · 3 matches
-   [Nearby alternatives](#nearby-alternatives) · 5 matches
-   [Higher earnings at similar cost](#higher-earnings) · 2 matches
-   [Lower cost with similar earnings](#lower-cost) · 3 matches
-   [Similar overall profiles](#related-peers) · 10 matches

## Similar admissions profiles

Similar admissions profiles · matching order within this group

| School | Western Carolina University · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tusculum University | 81.8% | 72.2% | $51,271 4 years after completion |
| Milligan University | 81.8% | 72.3% | $55,216 4 years after completion |
| Truett McConnell University | 81.8% | 78.3% | $47,336 4 years after completion |
| Campbell University | 81.8% | 87.2% | $63,540 4 years after completion |
| Saint Leo University | 81.8% | 78.4% | $58,644 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher admission rates

Higher admission rates · matching order within this group

| School | Western Carolina University · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Southern Wesleyan University | 81.8% | 99.5% | $52,228 4 years after completion |
| Midway University | 81.8% | 95.1% | $54,588 4 years after completion |
| Troy University | 81.8% | 96.0% | $55,048 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Nearby alternatives

Nearby alternatives · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mars Hill University | NC | $50,256 4 years after completion |
| Montreat College | NC | $47,821 4 years after completion |
| [University of North Georgia](/school/university-of-north-georgia/) | GA | $55,974 4 years after completion |
| [Appalachian State University](/school/appalachian-state-university/) | NC | $54,010 4 years after completion |
| [University of North Carolina at Greensboro](/school/university-of-north-carolina-at-greensboro/) | NC | $51,594 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher earnings at similar cost

Higher earnings at similar cost · matching order within this group

| School | Western Carolina University · earnings | Earnings | Average annual net price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/) | $54,667 4 years after completion | $89,614 4 years after completion | $13,760 |
| [University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus](/school/university-of-colorado-denveranschutz-medical-campus/) | $54,667 4 years after completion | $74,059 4 years after completion | $11,900 |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Lower cost with similar earnings

Lower cost with similar earnings · matching order within this group

| School | Western Carolina University · average annual net price | Average annual net price | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of North Georgia](/school/university-of-north-georgia/) | $13,315 | $9,823 | $55,974 4 years after completion |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | $13,315 | $2,835 | $51,985 4 years after completion |
| [Texas A & M International University](/school/texas-a-m-international-university/) | $13,315 | $3,637 | $50,288 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Similar overall profiles

Similar overall profiles · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Troy University | AL | $55,048 4 years after completion |
| [East Tennessee State University](/school/east-tennessee-state-university/) | TN | $53,033 4 years after completion |
| [The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-chattanooga/) | TN | $57,377 4 years after completion |
| [Coastal Carolina University](/school/coastal-carolina-university/) | SC | $52,398 4 years after completion |
| [Georgia Gwinnett College](/school/georgia-gwinnett-college/) | GA | $56,872 4 years after completion |
| College of Charleston | SC | $58,354 4 years after completion |
| [Eastern Kentucky University](/school/eastern-kentucky-university/) | KY | $54,691 4 years after completion |
| [University of Southern Mississippi](/school/university-of-southern-mississippi/) | MS | $48,593 4 years after completion |
| [Tennessee Technological University](/school/tennessee-technological-university/) | TN | $57,413 4 years after completion |
| [Western Kentucky University](/school/western-kentucky-university/) | KY | $53,602 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Matching methods and sources

[How schools are matched](/methodology/).

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).