Western Carolina University
School info
3.8
Overall Quality
Reputation
3.9
Food
3.2
Clubs
3.5
Facilities
4.1
Internet
3.3
Location
3.9
Opportunities
3.8
Safety
4.2
Social
3.8
Happiness
4.2
Basic Information
Location
- Cullowhee, NC
Institution Overview
- Public/Private: Public university
- Established: August 5, 1889; 135 years ago (August 5, 1889)
- Founder: Robert Lee Madison
Academic information
Degree Courses
- Numerous
- with over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and various certificate programs
Key Area
- Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
- Faculty Research in Chemistry and Biotechnology
- Forensic Osteology Research
- North Carolina Forest Stewards
- Graduate Research in Various Disciplines
Student and Staff Numbers
- Students: 11,877 (Spring 2023)
- Undergraduates: 10,145
- Postgraduates: 1,732
- Academic Staff: 548 Full-time and 228 Part-time (Spring 2023)
- Administrative Staff: 967
Notable Alumni
- Ariana DeBose
- David Sedaris
- Paul Johnson
- Paul Menhart
- Tom Apodaca
10 FAQs about this University from
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Students talk about this school
Good reviews
Overall 5
This is an amazing school! I have no idea why it's so underrated in here. The food at the all you can eat dining is so good!! If you like outdoors/nature, this is the place for you. The teachers are nice and welcoming. It's a small school with small classes where you don't get lost in the crowd. Great experience so far. I'm very happy I chose WCU!!
Overall 5
Western is such a good school! Really good professors, the most amazing scenery, good food, fun clubs, and just a great place to be. If you like the outdoors and nature, you couldn't ask for a better location. Highly recommended and very underrated.
Overall 5
Amazing school with a truly beautiful campus! If you love the outdoors and pretty scenery, this is a great place to be. Really great professors and faculty who care about the students. The local clubs and organizations are also excellent. Very diverse and inclusive offerings, particularly for the region.
Overall 5
LOVED this school and the memories here!
Overall 5
Great school. Very affordable. Great distance education program
Overall 4.9
Graduating in the Spring. I can honestly say my time here has been wonderful. I have met a lot of great people and had a lot of good times here -- not to mention I obviously learned a lot.
Overall 4.9
great place
Overall 4.8
Very local with lots to do
Overall 4.8
Great medium-sized school in the mountains! If you love outdoor recreation and a cozy small town feel, Western is perfect. Scenery around campus is beautiful, and there are many places to hike. About an hour from any major cities, but there are a lot of campus events to keep you busy (most of them are free to students). I love it here!
Overall 4.8
WCU is a great school to go to for a worthy/afforable education. I hear freshman complain all the time that there is nothing to do besides the parties that are thrown around campus, but that makes sense for freshmen. When you start to realize that college if for your education, not your party experience, you start to appreciate WCU for what it is.
Bad reviews
Overall 1.3
Have you ever eaten cold nachos in a gas station in the middle of nowhere? Western Carolina is the social and academic equivalent of that. Mix the boring mid-life apathy of the average DMV employee and the ego of a used car salesman and you will get an idea of how most professors here are.
Overall 1.4
You would be far better off paying the extra money to go to a better school. This place, the people, the faculty will suck the life out of you in every way. This place is a bottomless pit that sucks you deeper and deeper with horrible professors that will greatly tarnish your academic record. Profs with sense know it, sign for 2 years and leave.
Overall 1.6
If you care about your future and want a quality education you will avoid Western Carolina at all costs.
Overall 1.7
One of the graduate school professors on the Asheville campus posted his resume as "optional class reading," yet lacked the creativity necessary to produce the content in a mentally stimulating way. No passion or enthusiasm whatsoever about the topic and it definitely showed in the DB questions he asked, which were mainly "do you agree with this?"
Overall 1.9
It is in the middle of nowhere, with nothing around it. During COVID so much is shut down and has spotty hours you never know what you will find on campus. Expect an hour drive to Asheville to do anything. The campus is sprawling and the signage minimal. Good luck finding anything.
Overall 2
Same eating places get old and a lot of the food sits out for awhile. Cullowhee/Sylva barely has anything available to do, better be ready to drive to Asheville.
Overall 2
I regret coming here.