The 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s college rankings will be released on Sept. 24 and will feature more than 25 articles explaining the methodology the magazine uses to compile its annual rankings.
In addition to a ranking list of colleges and universities across the nation, U.S. News also provides statistics such as which schools have the most or least student debt upon graduation, the most ethnically diverse campuses and schools with the highest four-year graduation rates.
In advance of the announcement from this oft-referenced source, here is what the current list of Western North Carolina colleges has to say about the most studied factors: acceptance rate and tuition.
More details: These three Western North Carolina universities are included in Princeton Review’s 390 Best Schools for 2025.
Which colleges in Western North Carolina have the highest acceptance rates?
Many of WNC’s larger universities boast acceptance rates well above the national average of 71.4%, according to U.S. News & World Report. Western Carolina University has the highest acceptance rate of any public university on this list, at 85%, according to the same source.
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UNCA Acceptance Rate
Pass rate: 74%
In-state tuition and fees: $7,461
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $24,809
Room and board: $11,018
US News 2024 Overall Score out of 100: 55
U.S. News ranked UNCA 139th out of 211 liberal arts colleges nationwide in 2024.
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Appalachian State University Acceptance Rate
Pass rate: 83%
In-state tuition and fees: $8,081
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $25,077
Room and board: $12,258
US News 2024 Overall Score (out of 100): 91
U.S. News ranked Appalachian State University third out of 136 Southern regional universities in 2024.
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Western Carolina University Acceptance Rate
Pass rate: 85%
In-state tuition and fees: $4,532
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $8,532
Room and board: $11,545
US News 2024 Overall Score out of 100: 48
U.S. News ranked Western Carolina University 227th out of 439 national universities in 2024.
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Warren Wilson College Acceptance Rate
Pass rate: 84%
Tuition and Fees: $40,290
Room and board: $12,610
US News 2024 Overall Score out of 100: Bottom 25%
U.S. News ranks Warren Wilson College 186th-204th out of 211 liberal arts colleges nationwide through 2024.
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Montreat College Acceptance Rate
Pass Rate: 90%
Tuition and Fees: $30,810
Room and board: $10,670
US News 2024 Overall Score out of 100: 42
U.S. News ranks Montreat College 72nd out of 132 regional universities in the South in 2024.
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Brevard College
Pass rate: 40%
Tuition and Fees: $31,250
Room and board: $13,400
US News 2024 Overall Score out of 100: 63
Brevard College is ranked 33rd out of 132 Southern Regional Colleges in 2024.
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Mars Hill University
Pass rate: 74%
Tuition and Fees: $37,270
Room and board: $10,228
US News 2024 Overall Score out of 100: 69
Mars Hill University is ranked 20th out of 132 Southern Regional Universities in 2024.
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Iris Seaton is a featured news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
