60%
Graduation Rate
27%
Transfer-out Rate
79%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At Western Carolina University, the graduation rate is 60 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 79 %, and the transfer-out rate is 27 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 48.45% (public Doctoral / Research University).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 1,316 students out of 2,184 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Western Carolina University.
By gender, 534 male and 782 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 2,184 | 1,316 | 60.26% |
|---|
| Men | 974 | 534 | 54.83% |
|---|
| Women | 1,210 | 782 | 64.63% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Western Carolina University.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 13.33%
- Asian: 60.00%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 47.92%
- Hispanic: 57.95%
- White: 61.79%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 100.00%
- Two or More Race: 52.21%
- Unknown: 73.68%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 13.33%(2/15) |
14.29%(1/7) |
12.50%(1/8) |
|---|
| Asian | 60.00%(15/25) |
38.46%(5/13) |
83.33%(10/12) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 47.92%(46/96) |
36.84%(14/38) |
55.17%(32/58) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 57.95%(102/176) |
51.81%(43/83) |
63.44%(59/93) |
|---|
| White | 61.79%(1,064/1,722) |
57.74%(444/769) |
65.06%(620/953) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 100.00%(1/1) |
- |
100.00%(1/1) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 52.21%(59/113) |
31.91%(15/47) |
66.67%(44/66) |
|---|
| Unknown | 73.68%(14/19) |
62.50%(5/8) |
81.82%(9/11) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At Western Carolina, the transfer-out rate is 26.92%. Its transfer-out rate is higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 21.05%.
Western Carolina's retention rate is 79% for full-time students and 62 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is relatively higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 71.81%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Western Carolina University, 13 of 17 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 76.47%.