Online Degrees and Programs at Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University offers 110 major programs for degree granting/certificate programs. Of that, the distance learning opportunity (online degrees/courses) is given to 26 major programs - 9 Bachelors, 11 Masters, 1 Doctorate, and 5 Post-graduate Certificate.

The 2024 tuition & fees are $4,532 for North Carolina residents and $8,532 for out-of-state students. Total 2,858 students out of total 11,635 students have enrolled online exclusively. Last year, total 1,724 students have completed their degree/certificate program through distance learning. Western Carolina University is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

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Online Program Overview

Western Carolina University is a four-years, public school located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It offers graduate degree programs as well as undergraduate degree programs. For the academic year 2023-2024, the tuition & fees are $4,532 for North Carolina residents and $8,532 for other students on average.

It offers 110 degree programs. Of that, the distance learning opportunity is given to 26 programs - 9 Bachelors, 11 Masters, 1 Doctorate, 5 Post-Bachelors or Post-Masters Certificate.

Online Degrees / Programs Overview
Online Degree Programs
School Name	Western Carolina University
Type	four-years, public
Address	Highway 107, Cullowhee, NC
Online Students	2,858 Enrolled Online Exclusively 3,482 Enrolled in Some Online Courses
Tuition & Fees (2023-2024)	In-State$4,532 Out-of-State$8,532
Student to Faculty	16:1 (6.25%)
Total	26 Programs
Bachelors	9 Programs
Masters	11 Programs
Doctorate	1 Programs
Post-Graduate	5 Programs

2024 Tuition & Fees

The following table and chart describe 2023-2024 tuition & fees and costs trends last 5 years at Western Carolina University . Each cost is an average amount over the offered programs. For North Carolina residents, the tuition & fees are $4,532 and $8,532 for non-North Carolina residents.

The costs per credit hour for part-time students or overload credits of full-time students is $184 for North Carolina residents and $344 for out-of-state students for undergraduate programs. The costs per credit hour for graduate programs is $441 for North Carolina residents and $1,276 for out-of-state students.

2024 Tuition & Fees

Tuition Changes (2019-2024)
	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024
Undergraduate (In-State)	$4,277	$4,285	$4,367	$4,453	$4,532
Undergraduate (Out-of-State)	$8,277	$8,285	$8,367	$8,453	$8,532
Graduate (In-State)	$7,414	$7,414	$7,480	$7,566	$7,778
Graduate (Out-of-State)	$17,821	$17,821	$17,887	$17,973	$18,497

Cost per Credit Hour

Tuition per Credit Hour (2019-2024)
	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024
Undergraduate (In-State)	$173	$173	$177	$181	$184
Undergraduate (Out-of-State)	$320	$332	$333	$341	$344
Graduate (In-State)	$410	$410	$433	$429	$441
Graduate (Out-of-State)	$1,168	$1,174	$1,197	$1,240	$1,276

Online Programs By Area of Study

Western Carolina University offers 110 degree programs through Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, Post-Graduate Certificate programs. Of that, 26 programs can be conferred by distance learning - 9 Bachelors, 11 Masters, 1 Doctorate, 5 Post-Bachelors or Post-Masters. The following table summarizes the number of degree programs by degree types.

Total Number of Online Degree Programs
	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Online Programs	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	9	11	1	5
Overall Programs	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	66	30	4	10

Next tables list online programs with offered degrees at Western Carolina University. The number on each column denotes the conferred degree of the program. It includes the completers through on-campus classes and hybrid on/offline classes as well as completely online classes. Only in Classroom means that the program is offered only on-site classes and not offered denotes that the school does not offer the program.

You may want to see all online schools offering a major program by following the link on the title of the program.

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

what is Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
American Indian/Native American Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	ONLY IN CLASSROOM

Education

what is Education program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	54	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Educational Leadership and Administration	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	33	ONLY IN CLASSROOM	1
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	61	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Oth (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	11	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

Engineering Technology

what is Engineering Technology program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Engineering Technology	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	ONLY IN CLASSROOM	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	ONLY IN CLASSROOM	20	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

Mathematics and Statistics

what is Mathematics and Statistics program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Mathematics and Statistics	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	ONLY IN CLASSROOM

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies

what is Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	ONLY IN CLASSROOM	39	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Outdoor Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	18	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting

what is Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	139	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

Human Services

what is Human Services program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Public Administration	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	76	ONLY IN CLASSROOM	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences

what is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Health/Health Care Administration/Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	ONLY IN CLASSROOM	40	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	89	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	250	39	NOT OFFERED	ONLY IN CLASSROOM
Nursing Practice	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	19	NOT OFFERED

Business

what is Business program?

	Certificate	Associates	Bachelors	Masters	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Business Administration and Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	252	ONLY IN CLASSROOM	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Business Administration, Management and Operations (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	39	NOT OFFERED	56
Finance	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	33	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	42	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Marketing/Marketing Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	68	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Marketing (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	46	17	NOT OFFERED	ONLY IN CLASSROOM

Distance Learning Student Population

At Western Carolina University, there are 11,635 students including in both undergraduate and graduate schools, with full-time and part-time status. Of that, 6,340 students were attending classes through distance learning (2,858 students are enrolled exclusively and 3,482 are enrolled in some online courses).

Distance Learning Student Distribution
Total Enrollment	11,635
Enrolled Exclusively in Online Courses	2,858
Enrolled in Some But Not All Online Courses	3,482
Not Enrolled In Any Online Courses	5,295

By student location, out of a total of 2,858 enrolled exclusively in online courses, 2,631 North Carolina Residents were enrolled in online classes exclusively, 168 students living in the U.S. States other than North Carolina, and 4 non-U.S. students enrolled in online courses.

Distance Learning Enrollment By Student Location
Enrolled Exclusively in Online Courses	2,858
North Carolina Resident	2,631
Other State In U.S.	223
Outside of U.S.	4

Distance Learning Enrollment By Degree
Enrolled Exclusively in Online Courses	2,858
Undergraduate	2,168
Graduate	690

Distance Learning Enrollment - Undergraduate
Enrolled Exclusively in Undergraduate Online Courses	2,168
Degree/Certificate Seeking	2,089
Non-Degree/Certificate Seeking	79

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