Cullowhee, North Carolina · Public · 4-year · Town
Overview
Western Carolina University is a public four-year institution in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Its campus is in a town setting. It enrolled 11,686 students in fall 2024, including 10,112 undergraduates and 1,574 graduate students. It is part of University of North Carolina.
Western Carolina University offers certificates, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and professional doctorates across 92 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Registered Nursing, Business Administration and Management, and Psychology, General. It awarded 3,107 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. 26 of its programs can be completed entirely online.
79% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 16 to 1.
Key figures
11,686
Students enrolled
79%
First-year retention
3,107
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
92
Programs and majors
16:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateBachelorMasterPhDProfessional
Programs and majors offered 92
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
79%
First-year retention, part-time students
62%
Student-to-faculty ratio
16:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
2,391
Master's degrees
502
Doctoral degrees (research)
18
Professional doctorates
97
Certificates under 1 year
14
Postbaccalaureate certificates
81
Post-master's certificates
4
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
11,686
Undergraduates, fall 2024
10,112
Graduate students, fall 2024
1,574
Full-time, fall 2024
78%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
13,248
Undergraduates, 2024-25
11,369
Graduate students, 2024-25
1,879
Full-time, 2024-25
73%
Size category
10,000 to 19,999 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
59%
Men
41%
White
74%
Hispanic or Latino
8%
Black or African American
7%
Asian
1%
Two or more races
4%
American Indian or Alaska Native
1%
International (U.S. nonresident)
2%
Race or ethnicity unknown
1%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
26
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Online graduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
28%
Students taking some online courses
42%
Weekend or evening classes
Yes
Campus and services
Setting
Town
Academic calendar
Semester
Part of
University of North Carolina
Carnegie classification
Doctoral/Professional Universities
Research designation
Research Colleges and Universities
Athletic association
NCAA
Athletic conference
Southern Conference
Chancellor
Kelli Brown
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, On-campus day care, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Yellow Ribbon Program, Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization
Business Administration and ManagementMulti-/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other+54