Online Degrees and Programs at Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University offers 119 major programs for degree granting/certificate programs. Of that, the distance learning opportunity (online degrees/courses) is given to 34 major programs - 2 Certificate, 10 Bachelors, 13 Masters, 1 Doctorate, and 8 Post-graduate Certificate.

The 2025 tuition & fees is $4,630 for North Carolina residents and $8,630 for out-of-state students.

Total 2,836 students out of total 11,686 students have enrolled online exclusively. Last year, total 1,759 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.

2025 Tuition & Fees

The following table and chart describe 2024-2025 tuition & fees and costs trends over last 5 years at Western Carolina University. Each cost is an average amount over the all offered programs. For North Carolina residents, the tuition & fees are $4,630 and $8,630 for non-North Carolina residents. For graduate programs, the 2025 tuition & fees is $7,876 and $18,595 for out-of-state students.

The cost per credit hour for part-time students or overload credits of full-time students is $184 for North Carolina residents and $339 for out-of-state students for undergraduate programs. The costs per credit hour for graduate programs is $443 for North Carolina residents and $1,214 for out-of-state students.

• Tuition & Fees
• Cost per Credit

Online Programs By Area of Study

Western Carolina University offers 119 degree programs through Certificate, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, Post-Graduate Certificate programs. Of that, 34 programs can be conferred by distance learning - 2 Certificates, 10 Bachelors, 13 Masters, 1 Doctorate, 8 Post-Bachelors or Post-Masters.

The following table summarizes the number of degree programs by degree types.

Majors and number of completers

The following tables show the offered programs by degree/certificate along with number of completers for each program last year.

Distance Learning Program Student Population

At Western Carolina University, there are 11,686 students including in both undergraduate and graduate schools, with full-time and part-time status. Of that, 5,883 students were attending classes through distance learning (2,836 students are enrolled exclusively and 3,047 are enrolled in some online courses).

By location where enrolled students live, out of a total of 2,836 enrolled exclusively in online courses, 2,599 North Carolina Residents were enrolled in online classes exclusively, 155 students living in the U.S. States other than North Carolina, and 4 non-U.S. students enrolled in online courses.

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