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Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 10,024 Undergrads 63.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,165
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,025
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,618
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$13,025
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,618Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,764Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate63.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
81.8%
SAT Avg
1,157
SAT Reading
25th: 56061075th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 52057075th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 25
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$494k
+$23k
+$7k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$447k
-$23k
-$40k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$417k
-$53k
-$69k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
55
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-85%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-91%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-61%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-62%
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Certificates
History
CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$15,375
Earnings (4yr)
$61,346
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,010
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,809
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,218
Earnings (4yr)
$50,180
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,823
Earnings (4yr)
$57,713
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,605
Earnings (4yr)
$51,213
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,322
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$52,183
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,518
Earnings (4yr)
$86,853
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$23,215
Earnings (4yr)
$83,954
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,288
Earnings (4yr)
$55,903
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,467
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,622
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$34,516
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$93,001
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,441
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$22,620
Earnings (4yr)
$78,801
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,500
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,950
Earnings (4yr)
$45,079
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$19,763
Earnings (4yr)
$49,834
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$18,615
Earnings (4yr)
$58,076
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,029
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,200
Earnings (4yr)
$42,698
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$18,653
Earnings (4yr)
$49,798
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,638
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$20,722
Earnings (4yr)
$62,128
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,568
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$21,954
Earnings (4yr)
$59,885
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (4yr)
$44,014
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,391
Earnings (4yr)
$40,831
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,786
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,077
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,380
Earnings (4yr)
$48,350
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$18,450
Earnings (4yr)
$70,331
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,698
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,954
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Median Debt
$15,193
Earnings (4yr)
$79,533
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,898
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$18,838
Earnings (4yr)
$40,744
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
$23,071
Earnings (4yr)
$54,246
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,320
Earnings (4yr)
$50,025
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,655
Earnings (4yr)
$46,195
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$24,937
Earnings (4yr)
$47,031
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,720
Earnings (4yr)
$50,761
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
$19,339
Earnings (4yr)
$47,105
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,232
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
History
PB-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,139
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,418
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,828
Earnings (4yr)
$100,807
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,698
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,344
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
MastCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $96,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$32,980
Earnings (4yr)
$54,249
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,241
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,104
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$24,001
Earnings (4yr)
$63,641
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,161
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$27,901
Earnings (4yr)
$77,673
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,995
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,476
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$445k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$35,533
Earnings (4yr)
$72,948
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
$31,584
Earnings (4yr)
$122,811
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$416k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,682
Earnings (4yr)
$58,911
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$15,246
Earnings (4yr)
$77,046
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$40,495
Earnings (4yr)
$51,558
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$73,675
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$49,619
Earnings (4yr)
$77,060
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.