NC
Western Carolina University
4.54 incidents / 1,000 students
Cullowhee, NC · Clery Act 2024 · Public
Western Carolina University
Across 2022–2024, Western Carolina University reported 129 incidents in the Clery Criminal Offenses section, and the yearly count fell over that span (largest filed category: Rape). Nearby same-state same-level comparison: Wake Forest University.
- 4.54
- Incidents / 1k students
- #1,561
- Rank of 2,072
- #87
- NC rank
- 11,686
- Enrolled students
4.54 reported score-category incidents per 1,000 students
Western Carolina University reports 4.54 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 - 93% above Bergen Community College. Similar-enrollment scored peers: Bergen Community College (0.26/1k); Marquette University (3.41/1k); University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (3.06/1k); Fayetteville Technical Community College (0.00/1k); The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (5.01/1k). Same-state same-level set also includes Wake Forest University (10.19/1k); North Carolina A & T State University (6.92/1k); North Carolina Central University (5.13/1k); University of North Carolina at Pembroke (9.38/1k); Elon University (3.18/1k); Fayetteville State University (2.67/1k); High Point University (6.79/1k); Duke University (7.83/1k). Largest Criminal Offenses total across filed years: Rape.
Data source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey
- incidents / 1,000 students
- 4.54
- of 2,072 ranked nationally
- #1,561
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 75%
- Criminal Offenses, 2024
- 38
Source: U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey
Data updated August 2026
Clery Act plate
Sheet 200004 · Western Carolina University 4.54/1k score rate · #1,561/2,072
RATE-HIGH · RANK-BOTTOM · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-DOWN · CAT-LEAD · ENR-MID · FIRE-REPORT
- RATE-HIGH 4.54/1k
- RANK-BOTTOM #1,561/2,072
- ST-MID #87 in state
- BELOW-PEER The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · 0.48 back
- ZERO-NONE Scored
- TREND-DOWN ↓ 21%
- CAT-LEAD Rape
- ENR-MID 11,686
- FIRE-REPORT 4 fires
Nearest enrollment peer: The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (+0.48/1k)
Western Carolina University sheet RATE-HIGH · RANK-BOTTOM · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-DOWN · CAT-LEAD · ENR-MID · FIRE-REPORT · peer The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Codes from this campus OPE filing: score-category rate, national/state rank, named enrollment peer, zero posture, Criminal Offenses trend, lead category, enrollment band, fire filing. Not a moving recommendation.
Clery plate RATE-HIGH · RANK-BOTTOM · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-DOWN · CAT-LEAD · ENR-MID · FIRE-REPORT. Nearest similar-enrollment peer is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (+0.48/1k). National rank #1,561 of 2,072 scored campuses. Instrument codes from this campus OPE sheet; compare similarly sized peers before treating any single rate as decisive.
Western Carolina University reports 4.54 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 - 93% above Bergen Community College. Similar-enrollment scored peers: Bergen Community College (0.26/1k); Marquette University (3.41/1k); University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (3.06/1k); Fayetteville Technical Community College (0.00/1k); The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (5.01/1k). Same-state same-level set also includes Wake Forest University (10.19/1k); North Carolina A & T State University (6.92/1k); North Carolina Central University (5.13/1k); University of North Carolina at Pembroke (9.38/1k); Elon University (3.18/1k); Fayetteville State University (2.67/1k); High Point University (6.79/1k); Duke University (7.83/1k). Largest Criminal Offenses total across filed years: Rape.
Peer-rate neighbourhood around Western Carolina University
Lowest/highest enrollment peers plus campuses nearest Western on score-category rate. Full ladder: /rankings/safest-campuses.
- Fayetteville Technical Community College · lowest peer 0
Fayetteville Technical Community College — lowest peer
0 per 1,000 students
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · near
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — near
3.06 per 1,000 students
- Marquette University · near
Marquette University — near
3.41 per 1,000 students
- Western Carolina University · this campus
Western Carolina University — this campus
4.54 per 1,000 students
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · highest peer
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga — highest peer
5.01 per 1,000 students
What this shows Neighbourhood of similar-enrollment peers around Western Carolina University's 4.54/1k rate, not a full-corpus distribution reprint.
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2024
Western Carolina University decreased from 43 to 38 reported on-campus incidents between the 2023 and 2024 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesSignature insight · size does not equal danger
Campus size vs reported safety rate
Among 37 NC 4-year peers in this comparison, Western Carolina University is larger than 86% and safer-reporting than 56% - the larger, safer-reporting quadrant. Axes are within-sample percentiles so outliers share the same frame; a higher safety percentile means a lower Clery incidents-per-1,000 rate.
Read the chart as text
- Point 1: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 83, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 11
- Point 2: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 89, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 31
- Point 3: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 81, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 50
- Point 4: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 78, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 14
- Point 5: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 75, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 81
- Point 6: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 72, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 83
- Point 7: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 69, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 33
- Point 8: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 92, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 25
- Point 9: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 94, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 44
- Point 10: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 67, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 72
- Point 11: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 64, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 3
- Point 12: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 97, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 67
- Point 13: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 61, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 69
- Point 14: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 58, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 89
- Point 15: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 56, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 92
- Point 16: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 53, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 19
- Point 17: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 50, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 92
- Point 18: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 47, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 8
- Point 19: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 44, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 53
- Point 20: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 42, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 92
- Point 21: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 39, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 28
- Point 22: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 36, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 17
- Point 23: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 100, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 78
- Point 24: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 33, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 39
- Point 25: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 31, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 75
- Point 26: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 28, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 61
- Point 27: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 25, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 42
- Point 28: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 22, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 36
- Point 29: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 19, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 6
- Point 30: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 17, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 86
- Point 31: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 14, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 64
- Point 32: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 11, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 92
- Point 33: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 8, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 47
- Point 34: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 6, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 58
- Point 35: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 3, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 22
- Point 36: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 0, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 0
- Western Carolina University: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 86, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 56
Read the chart as a table
| Campus | Enrollment | Rate / 1k | Size pct | Safety pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaw University | 964 | 31.12 | 0 | 0 |
| Greensboro College | 967 | 8.27 | 3 | 22 |
| Mars Hill University | 1,110 | 4.50 | 6 | 58 |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | 1,111 | 5.40 | 8 | 47 |
| Guilford College | 1,180 | 0.00 | 11 | 92 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte | 1,184 | 4.22 | 14 | 64 |
| Barton College | 1,235 | 2.43 | 17 | 86 |
| Johnson C Smith University | 1,302 | 13.82 | 19 | 6 |
| Catawba College | 1,376 | 6.54 | 22 | 36 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 1,388 | 5.76 | 25 | 42 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | 1,419 | 4.23 | 28 | 61 |
| Western Carolina University (this campus) | 11,686 | 4.54 | 86 | 56 |
Sample of 12 campuses from the plot (sorted by enrollment). Source: U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey + IPEDS enrollment. Rate = on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 students; lower is safer-reporting, not a personal-risk forecast.
What changed between 2023 and 2024
Reported on-campus incidents at Western Carolina University fell from 43 to 38 (-12%). The increase shows up in Motor Vehicle Theft (4 to 17). Falling over the same period: Arson (6 to 1), Fondling (10 to 6) and Burglary (6 to 3).
This describes reported incidents, not crime. Clery counts move with reporting policy, awareness campaigns and how a campus staffs its security authorities, so a rise can reflect better capture of reports and a fall can reflect worse capture. One year of movement at a single campus is not a trend.
What actually gets reported at Western Carolina University
Across 3 reporting years, on-campus incidents were recorded in 7 Clery Act categories here: Rape, Fondling, Motor Vehicle Theft, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Arson and Robbery.
The remaining 4 categories were reported with no on-campus incidents, Incest, Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter, Negligent Manslaughter and Statutory Rape. Under the Clery Act that zero is an affirmative report that nothing in the category occurred, not an absence of data, which is why the table below lists those rows rather than dropping them.
Counts describe incidents reported under the Clery Act for the on-campus geography. Reporting practice varies between institutions, so counts are not a direct measure of relative safety.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyWestern Carolina University: Criminal Offenses by year
Declining 21% (48 → 38 incidents)
Read the chart as text
| Period | On-campus incidents |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 48 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2024 | 38 |
| Crime Type | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rape | 10 | 13 | 22 |
| Fondling | 6 | 10 | 15 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 17 | 4 | 2 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Burglary | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Arson | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Table figures show the Criminal Offenses section; other Clery tables are separate
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
36 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2024 | 15 | 51 |
| Liquor | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2024 | 6 | 161 |
| Weapons | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2024 | 1 | 4 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 15 | 65 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 9 | 163 |
Western Carolina University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are $2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer in those categories).
NJ
Bergen Community College
0.26 incidents / 1,000 students
WI
Marquette University
3.41 incidents / 1,000 students
Cost context
Where Western Carolina University sits on price and outcomes
At $13,315, Western Carolina University's reported average net price is cheaper than 46% among 145 North Carolina colleges with a reported figure. The state median is $14,086.
- $13,315
- average net price
- $14,086
- North Carolina median
- 2.0×
- six-year earnings to median debt
- $9,176
- reported income-bracket spread
Aid here is steeply income-scaled. Families reporting under $30,000 of income record a net price of $8,816, while those above $110,000 record $17,992 - roughly 2.0 times as much. A published average of $13,315 therefore describes very few families well; the bracket nearest your own income is the more useful figure.
Median reported earnings six years after entry are $43,085, roughly 3.2 times a year of net price. That is a workable ratio, though it says nothing about how long the programme takes to finish.
Average net price reflects grant and scholarship aid for aided students, not a personal offer. Earnings cover former students who received federal aid; neither measure predicts an individual's outcome.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $4,630
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $8,630
- Avg Net Price
- $13,315
- Median Debt
- $21,868
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 35%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- SAT Average
- 1157
- SAT Math Range
- 520-610
- ACT Average
- 22
- ACT Range
- 19-25
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 60%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $43,085
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $49,458
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 69%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Similar Institutions
Showing 5 of 721 similar institutions by enrollment size.
Bergen Community College
Paramus, NJ · 11,720 enrolled
Safety Score 0.26
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI · 11,746 enrolled
Safety Score 3.41
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · 11,746 enrolled
Safety Score 3.06
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, NC · 11,755 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · 11,775 enrolled
Safety Score 5.01
Closest by National Rank
Western Carolina University (national rank #1561) sits near Graceland University-Lamoni (#1562) and The University of Montana (#1560) on the scored national list, nearest by rank, not by size or state.
Nationwide campuses with similar scale or Clery rate
Two Clery-derived peer sets for Western Carolina University, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not state containment (Similar Institutions and national-rank neighbors above stay enrollment- or rank-based).
Similar enrollment (nationwide)
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI · 11,746 enrolled
Safety score 3.41
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · 11,746 enrolled
Safety score 3.06
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · 11,775 enrolled
Safety score 5.01
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · 11,790 enrolled
Safety score 3.56
South College
Knoxville, TN · 11,557 enrolled
Safety score 0.00
Angelo State University
San Angelo, TX · 11,542 enrolled
Safety score 1.30
Southeastern University
Lakeland, FL · 11,510 enrolled
Safety score 1.56
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA · 11,873 enrolled
Safety score 1.26
Similar 2024 Clery rate (nationwide)
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA · 1,102 enrolled
Safety score 4.54
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT · 10,811 enrolled
Safety score 4.53
New College of Florida
Sarasota, FL · 881 enrolled
Safety score 4.54
Coker University
Hartsville, SC · 1,325 enrolled
Safety score 4.53
Curry College
Milton, MA · 1,994 enrolled
Safety score 4.51
Mercyhurst University
Erie, PA · 2,632 enrolled
Safety score 4.56
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH · 12,475 enrolled
Safety score 4.57
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · 1,094 enrolled
Safety score 4.57
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Western Carolina University safe?
Western Carolina University has a safety score of 4.54 (2024 on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,561 nationally out of 2,072 ranked institutions - nearest similar-enrollment comparison: Bergen Community College (0.26/1k). Same-state same-level set: Wake Forest University (10.19/1k); North Carolina A & T State University (6.92/1k); North Carolina Central University (5.13/1k); University of North Carolina at Pembroke (9.38/1k); Elon University (3.18/1k); Fayetteville State University (2.67/1k); High Point University (6.79/1k); Duke University (7.83/1k).
What crimes are reported at Western Carolina University?
For calendar year 2024, Western Carolina University reported Motor Vehicle Theft (17), Rape (10), Fondling (6), Burglary (3) and Aggravated Assault (1), and 1 further category in the Criminal Offenses section. Every other category in that section was reported at zero; other Clery tables are separate.
How does Western Carolina University compare to similar schools?
Western Carolina University reports 93% more 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 than Bergen Community College. Scored similar-enrollment peers on this page: Bergen Community College (0.26/1k); Marquette University (3.41/1k); University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (3.06/1k); Fayetteville Technical Community College (0.00/1k); The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (5.01/1k). Same-state same-level set: Wake Forest University (10.19/1k); North Carolina A & T State University (6.92/1k); North Carolina Central University (5.13/1k); University of North Carolina at Pembroke (9.38/1k); Elon University (3.18/1k); Fayetteville State University (2.67/1k); High Point University (6.79/1k); Duke University (7.83/1k).
Does Western Carolina University have fire safety data?
Yes. Western Carolina University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 4 fires were reported in the most recent year.
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice.