FAST FACTS
$901.8 MILLION STATE IMPACT According to a study commissioned
by UNC General Administration, Western Carolina University created $901.8
million in added income in North Carolina during the 2012-13 fiscal year.
$511 MILLION REGIONAL IMPACT According to a study commissioned
by UNC General Administration, Western Carolina University created $511.3
million in added income in its 10-county service region in Western North
Carolina during the 2012-13 fiscal year.
5:1 RETURN ON INVESTMENT The same study reported that for every $1
spent by taxpayers on WCU, the state gains $5.40 in added tax revenue and
public sector savings.
COMMUNITY MEDICAL CLINICS Through public-private partnerships
on its Millennial Campus, WCU provides health clinics to people in rural WNC
including primary care, sports medicine, speech and hearing, balance and fall
prevention and a pro-bono physical therapy clinic.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Through the Kimmel School’s
Center for Rapid Product Realization (C.R.P.R.), WCU students work side-by-side
with faculty on industry-sponsored product design to help businesses across
the region achieve higher efficiencies in advanced manufacturing. C.R.P.R.
has worked with 33 different companies over the last 5 years. Twenty student
capstone projects were completed in 2014.
REGIONAL BUSINESS SUPPORT In 2014 alone, 262 students in WCU’s
College of Business worked with regional businesses to assist with
everything from business expansion plans to innovative market research to
marketing implementation.
HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WCU operates an
innovative two-plus-two partnership with area community colleges to offer
a long-term solution to the region’s nursing shortage. The program allows
students to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing on a flexible schedule and at
an affordable cost. It costs a total of $17,000 for a RIBN student to earn a BSN.
WCU ALUMNI66,049
WCU ALUMNI RESIDING IN N.C.42,493
WCU EMPLOYEES1,492
HEADCOUNT ENROLLMENT 10,384
• 91% of students are from North Carolina
Undergraduate = 8,787
• 84% full-time; 16% part-time
• 42% are transfer students
• 62% of transfer students are from N.C. Community Colleges
• 78% of new freshmen enrolled in fall 2013 returned in fall 2014
• 20% of students are 24 or older
Graduate = 1,595
• 42% full-time; 58% part-time
• 77% are enrolled in professional programs
DEGREES CONFERRED IN 2013-14 2,510
• Average undergraduate time-to-degree = 4.0 years
• Average graduate time-to-degree = 2.7 years
FRESHMAN RETENTION RATE78%
IN-STATE UNDERGRADUATE FINANCIAL AID/DEBT LOAN
The average WCU loan debt: $20,233 (National loan debt average: $28,400)
Total WCU undergraduate loan debt: $35,295,665
71% received some type of need-based aid (Federal, State, or Institutional)
42% received Pell Grants
43% received state grants/scholarships
WCU OPERATING BUDGETS
State Appropriations
$ 83,827,742
Tuition
S 38,457,473
Grants Awards 2013-14
Auxiliaries
$ 5,547,961
$ 35,980,505
Endowment & Foundation (includes scholarships/professorships awards)
$ 2,684,956
Capital (R&R)
$ 3,196,577
Trust funds
Athletics
$ 7,901,021
$ 10,645,000