Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Doctoral / professional

SAT middle 50% (admitted students)

1080–1270

Median ~1180

Acceptance rate

82%

Enrollment

10,024

ACT middle 50%

19–25

What the numbers say about Western

The reported middle 50% spans 190 points, from 1080 to 1270. A planning score near or above 1310 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee.
The reported section midpoints are 580 Reading and Writing and 570 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split.
The Scorecard snapshot reports a 82% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability.
Reported outcomes include a 60% completion rate and $49,458 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation.

Understand a 1180 SAT score Plan for a 1300 Verify current admissions policy

Tuition and outcomes

Tuition (in-state)

$4,630

Tuition (out-of-state)

$8,630

Median earnings 10 years after entry

$49,458

4-year completion rate (150% time)

60%

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; repository snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. Read the methodology.

How your SAT score lines up

The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between 1080 and 1270. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate.

1310 SAT planning target: Above the reported middle-50% range.
1270 SAT (reported 75th percentile): At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range.
1180 SAT (median): Within the upper half of the reported range.
1080 SAT (reported 25th percentile): Within the lower half of the reported range.

Compare to other colleges →

Colleges with similar SAT scores

Ranked by proximity to Western's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds.

College	Location	SAT middle 50%	Acceptance rate
University of Mississippi	University, MS	1000–1200	97%
East Carolina University	Greenville, NC	1070–1240	89%
Montana State University	Bozeman, MT	1070–1290	82%
Bridgewater State University	Bridgewater, MA	1060–1260	88%
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth	North Dartmouth, MA	1050–1270	91%
Christopher Newport University	Newport News, VA	1060–1290	86%

FAQs

What SAT score do I need for Western?

Western Carolina University's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 1080–1270, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1310 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff.

What is Western's acceptance rate?

Western Carolina University's most recently reported acceptance rate is approximately 82%.

How much does it cost to attend Western?

In-state tuition is approximately $4,630 and out-of-state is approximately $8,630. These figures exclude room, board, and fees.

Is Western test-optional?

Many US universities adjusted test policies after 2020. Check Western Carolina University's admissions page for current test-optional, test-required, or test-flexible policy.

Official site: www.wcu.edu

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