Head-to-head comparison
Western Carolina University vs Meredith College: which has better ROI?
Option A Cullowhee, NC
Western Carolina University
- Net price / year
- $13,315
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,458
- Payback
- 48.5 yrs
Option B Raleigh, NC
Meredith College
- Net price / year
- $22,488
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,539
- Payback
- 28.3 yrs
Meredith College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,952 in 28.3 years versus 48.5 years at Western Carolina University, on median earnings of $51,539 vs $49,458 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Western Carolina University | Meredith College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,315 | $22,488 |
| Total net cost | $53,260 | $89,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,458 | $51,539 |
| Median debt | $21,868 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 48.5 yrs | 28.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$31,300 | -$26,372 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Western Carolina University or Meredith College?
Western Carolina University, at $13,315 a year after aid versus $22,488 — a gap of $9,173 a year, or $36,692 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Western Carolina University or Meredith College graduates earn more?
Meredith College graduates report a median $51,539 ten years after entry, $2,081 more than the $49,458 at Western Carolina University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Western Carolina University or Meredith College?
Western Carolina University: its completers carry a median $21,868 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Meredith College, a difference of $3,132. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Meredith College, against 60% at Western Carolina University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.