Tuition for North Carolina residents attending Western Carolina University rose by 2% during the 2022-23 school year, as revealed in the latest report, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
In-state students paid $4,453 to attend the public four-year university this year, an increase of $86 from the $4,367 charged in the 2021-22 academic year.
Non-resident students faced tuition costs 89.8% higher than those for residents in 2022-23, amounting to $8,453. This represents a 1% increase from $8,367 in the previous year.
Approximately 80% of the undergraduate student body at the university are North Carolina residents, while about 18% come from other states.
Data indicates that 99% of full-time undergraduates who enrolled in 2022-23 received some form of financial aid. A total of 1,894 students were awarded grants or scholarships amounting to $10.3 million, and 1,002 students borrowed over $6.1 million in student loans.
Across all undergraduate students, 9,459 received grants or scholarships totaling $43.6 million. Additionally, 4,345 students secured federal student loans totaling $25.8 million.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
The following data includes only full-time students who began an undergraduate program at the Western Carolina University in the 2022-23 school year.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 1,882 | 98% | $5.1 million | $2,709 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 783 | 41% | $1.2 million | $1,508 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 1,317 | 69% | $4 million | $3,058 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 1,894 | 99% | $10.3 million | $5,442 |
| Federal student loans | 985 | 51% | $4.8 million | $4,858 |
| Other student loans | 141 | 7% | $1.3 million | $9,302 |
| Student loan aid | 1,002 | 52% | $6.1 million | $6,085 |
| Total student aid | 1,900 | 99% | $16.4 million | $8,633 |
Information in this story was obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics. The source data can be found here.
