College comparison

University of South Carolina-Upstate vs Western Carolina University

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC	Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC
Acceptance rateUniversity of South Carolina-Upstate is more selective	67%	82%
SAT (25–75)	1005–1175	1080–1270
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	4,038	10,024
Avg net price	$13,557	$13,315
Median earnings (10 yr)Western Carolina University reports higher median earnings	$48,587	$49,458
Graduation rate	43%	60%
Median debt	$22,310	$21,868
Economic mobility	—	1.1%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public

Quick answers

Is University of South Carolina-Upstate or Western Carolina University harder to get into?

University of South Carolina-Upstate is more selective: University of South Carolina-Upstate's acceptance rate is approximately 67% and Western Carolina University's is approximately 82% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for University of South Carolina-Upstate vs Western Carolina University?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1005–1175 at University of South Carolina-Upstate and 1080–1270 at Western Carolina University. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.