565 H.F. Robinson Administration Building
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723

Founded in 1889, Western Carolina University now provides an education to more than 9,000 students from 46 states and 39 countries. The school is a member of the University of North Carolina system. WCU has grown in size to become a major cultural, scientific, and educational force, based on it's mission: a focus on quality education and preparation for responsible citizenship in a changing world.

A faculty of about 457 full time faculty members, provides a student-faculty ratio of 14 to 1 for the student body. Western Carolina University's academic programs span more than 120 specialties, including the nation's highest-ranked entrepreneurship and project management programs. WCU also boasts a national award-winning teacher education program as well as a criminal justice program used as a model for North Carolina's accreditation program. Western Carolina University can also lay claim to the nation's first accredited four-year emergency medical care program.

There are 12 residence buildings on the school's 600 acre campus, including one for graduate students and one for married students. Special accommodations include an honors residence hall; The Village, home to WCU's residential Greek organizations; and a "Faculty in Residence" Program. Freshmen are required to live on campus.

Hunter Library, the largest in Western North Carolina, contains 702,000 books and bound periodicals, 1,513,000 microfilm units, 23,000 e-books, and 3,330 current serial subscriptions. Interlibrary loan and computer databases offer unlimited resources.

Western Carolina University's distinguished faculty includes national award-winning authors, nationally and internationally recognized experts, and winners of Emmy, O. Henry, and National Endowment for the Arts awards.

Quick Facts:

Western Carolina University holds 21 special program accreditations and is a member of more than 30 state and national associations and organizations to which its professional programs are related.

The school is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's, education specialist, and doctor's degrees.

WCU is one of the 16 public universities that make up the University of North Carolina System.

Western Carolina University has ranked in the nation's top 10 for three years in a row in the number of papers presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and the undergraduate students from Cullowhee continue to lead the entire University of North Carolina system with their participation.

This school profile has been compiled and updated by The CollegeBound Network. The school is not affiliated with The CollegeBound Network and shall not be considered a sponsor of this program.