Nursing at Western Carolina University
If you plan to study Nursing, consider the program at Western Carolina University. We’ve gathered the following information to help you decide.
Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC.
Featured schools near , edit
Online Class Availability at Western Carolina University
Distance learning is available at Western Carolina University. Among 11,686 students, 2,836 (24%) studied exclusively online and 3,047 (26%) took at least some classes online.
Nursing Rankings at Western Carolina University
Rankings can help you compare Western Carolina University’s Nursing program to other colleges that offer this major.
Bachelor’s-Level Rankings
| Ranking | Scope | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Best Schools (Quality) | North Carolina | #10 of 72 |
| Best Value | North Carolina | #51 of 83 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Southeast (Region) | #57 of 506 |
| Best Value | Southeast (Region) | #255 of 529 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Nationwide | #437 of 1,918 |
| Best Value | Nationwide | #805 of 1,878 |
Master’s-Level Rankings
| Ranking | Scope | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Best Schools (Quality) | North Carolina | #10 of 72 |
| Best Value | North Carolina | #51 of 83 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Southeast (Region) | #57 of 506 |
| Best Value | Southeast (Region) | #255 of 529 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Nationwide | #437 of 1,918 |
| Best Value | Nationwide | #805 of 1,878 |
Doctoral-Level Rankings
| Ranking | Scope | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Best Schools (Quality) | North Carolina | #10 of 72 |
| Best Value | North Carolina | #51 of 83 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Southeast (Region) | #57 of 506 |
| Best Value | Southeast (Region) | #255 of 529 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Nationwide | #437 of 1,918 |
| Best Value | Nationwide | #805 of 1,878 |
Earnings for Nursing Graduates from Western Carolina University
Students who complete Western Carolina University’s Nursing program report the following median earnings (per the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard):
| Years After Graduation | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,892 |
| 2 years | $62,736 |
| 3 years | $62,428 |
| 4 years | $71,048 |
| 5 years | $78,480 |
Is this above or below average for the school? Four years out, Nursing graduates from Western Carolina University report median earnings of $71,048, compared with $52,554 for all Western Carolina University graduates — about 35% higher than the school-wide median.
Median Debt at Graduation
Median student loan debt for Nursing graduates from Western Carolina University is $23,163.
More Specific Nursing Concentrations at Western Carolina University
This Nursing program at Western Carolina University offers more specialized concentrations:
| Concentration | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 301 |
| Nursing Practice | 17 |
Best-Paid Careers for Nursing Graduates
Students who finish Nursing program at Western Carolina University go on to a range of careers. The table below ranks the highest-paying careers for Nursing graduates, ordered by median annual salary:
| Occupation | Nationwide Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | $147,651 |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | $143,854 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Registered Nurses | $105,741 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,718 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $66,747 |
| Critical Care Nurses | $65,103 |
| Acute Care Nurses | $56,247 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | $52,889 |
| Nurse Midwives | $36,174 |
References
- IPEDS — Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
- U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard
- O*NET Online (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- National Center for Education Statistics
More about our data sources and methodologies.