Alex Naar

Western Carolina University

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains and recognized as a top adventure college, Western Carolina University is renowned for its unrivaled educational experience, its premier Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, and its gritty Catamounts athletics teams, which compete at the NCAA Division I level. As the westernmost institution in the University of North Carolina System and located on a 600-acre mountain campus in Cullowhee with an instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, WCU offers more than 120 undergraduate programs and more than 40 graduate programs. Consistently ranked in the upper echelon of higher education institutions by U.S. News & World Report, WCU is among the top 10 for public universities in the South and best value universities in the South. The ranking for best value is a reflection of NC Promise, which reduces the cost of tuition to $500 per semester for North Carolina residents and $2,500 per semester for out-of-state students. WCU provides vast opportunities to engage beyond the classroom with more than 170 student organizations, including Greek life featuring 20 sororities and fraternities; the Black Student Union, the Latino Appreciation Student Organization and Intercultural Affairs; and more than 50 club and intramural sports. Students are offered the tools for an engaged learning experience through meaningful service in the community to help transform the college experience, including independent volunteer projects and Days of Service participation. Additionally, WCU provides leadership and advocacy for students and scholars through international programs and activities on campus and the surrounding community, and study abroad opportunities. The campus has a state-of-the-art fitness experience with cardiovascular and weight equipment, multi-purpose courts, an indoor jogging/walking track, group exercise studios, a 48-foot indoor climbing wall, and an on-campus trail system.