WCU sees high retention rate, notable increase in enrollment for spring 2025
The university is now reporting a 92.14% retention rate. File photo
The spring semester is underway at Western Carolina University and that means looking at how the university’s enrollment is shaping up for the first few weeks of the new year.
WCU experienced a notable increase in total enrollment from spring 2024 to spring 2025, with a 1.73% increase and a 2.39% increase in undergraduate students.
The university also saw a 2.23% retention rate increase for fall 2024 to spring 2025 with a 92.14% retention rate reported.
“This year’s spring enrollment shows that WCU continues to not only attract students because of our student-center campus culture and affordability, but also keep them here to graduation,” the university said in a release. “Most notably, our impressive retention rate for our first-year class reflects not only the hard work of our students but also that of our faculty and student success staff. This is certainly something to celebrate.”
The enrollment numbers are from official census statistics compiled by WCU’s Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness and released Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Although classes began Monday, Jan. 13, enrollment is not official until after the 10th day of classes, referred to as “census day.” Even then, the numbers are not considered final until any errors have been corrected and the files have been submitted to the University of North Carolina system office.
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WCU is also expanding its Catamount Commitment program to transfer students.
WCU launched Catamount Commitment in fall 2023 for first-year students from North Carolina who apply timely and earn fall admission. In fall 2025, a third cohort of high school graduates will reap the financial benefits and savings of this program.
Beginning this fall, select North Carolinians who earn degrees and transfer directly from a North Carolina Community College to WCU each fall or spring will receive Catamount Commitment offers.
The program provides North Carolina students with annual financial support based on their academic performance and academic program interests.
In order to be eligible for the Catamount Commitment program as a transfer student, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Reside in North Carolina
• Complete any associate’s degree from a NC community college
• Achieve at minimum a cumulative 3.0 post-secondary GPA
• Apply for undergraduate admission as a transfer student by the deadline
• Enroll full-time in a resident-credit degree program and major in a STEM, health sciences, or education field
Eligible students will be awarded $1,000 annually, and funding is available for up to three years (six semesters) based on maintaining eligibility. The remaining semesters of eligibility can be used for graduate school if the bachelor’s degree is completed in fewer than six semesters.
The transfer admission application deadline is April 1 for fall 2025 and November 1 for spring 2026.
Catamount Commitment for transfer students works in conjunction with the NC Promise program, which increases access to quality university education by reducing tuition for all undergraduate students at WCU to $500 per fall and spring semesters for in-state students and $2,500 for out-of-state students.
For more information about the program, visit catamountcommitment.wcu.edu
In addition to the expansion of the Catamount Commitment program, WCU is also introducing a new Phi Theta Kappa Guarantee for transfer students pursuing campus-based programs at WCU.
For eligible PTK members, the new program includes guaranteed admission to the university (not a specific program of study); an invitation to join the Brinson Honors College; and an opportunity to compete for Western PTK scholarships.
WCU is committing 100 scholarships ($100,000) annually for PTK members. Each $1,000-scholarship ($500 per semester for two semesters with potential renewal for one additional year subject to funding availability) can be stacked with other awards and with financial aid.
For more information about scholarship opportunities at WCU, visit scholarships.wcu.edu and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at finaid.wcu.edu .
