Major Programs and Completers by Degrees

Degree Programs Overview

Western Carolina University offers 114 degree programs through Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate, Post-Graduate Certificate programs. Of that, 30 programs can be conferred by distance learning.

A total of 3,187 students completed certificate or degree programs between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 at Western Carolina. 2,502 students completed bachelor's programs and 553 completed master's programs.

The following table summarizes the number of major programs by offered degrees with number of completers( graduates ) at Western Carolina. It only includes students who completed a program as the first major.

Total Number of Programs and Completers By Degree
	Total Programs	Online Programs	Completers
	Total Programs	Online Programs	Total	Men	Women
Bachelor's	66	9	2,502	1,025	1,477
Master's	28	12	553	171	382
Doctor's	4	1	79	29	50
Post-Graduate Certificate	9	6	49	22	27
At least 12-weeks but less than 1-Year Certificate	7	2	4	2	2

Programs with Highest Earning After Graduation

The following table lists the best programs with the highest salary after graduation from Western Carolina University. Note that the average salary and debt is based on 2020 data from College Scorecard.

The Computer Science program has the highest salary ($72,367) after graduation and the Construction Engineering Technologies program is reported as the second-highest earning program with a $64,334 average salary.

Bachelor Programs - Highest Earning After Graduation
Field of Study	Average Salary (2020)		Average Loan Debt
Field of Study	Yearly	Monthly	Yearly	Monthly
Computer Science	$72,367	$6,031	$27,000	$286
Construction Engineering Technologies	$64,334	$5,361	$26,000	$276
Engineering Technology	$63,171	$5,264	$25,250	$268
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$57,003	$4,750	$17,500	$186
Management Information Systems and Services	$53,497	$4,458	$22,300	$236
Public Administration	$53,171	$4,431	$17,234	$183
Finance and Financial Management Services	$48,460	$4,038	$22,060	$234
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	$47,821	$3,985	$25,090	$266
Accounting and Related Services	$46,508	$3,876	$19,428	$206
Public Health	$44,627	$3,719	$27,000	$286
Marketing	$43,680	$3,640	$22,922	$243
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$42,199	$3,517	$21,430	$227

Master Programs - Highest Earning After Graduation
Field of Study	Average Salary (2020)		Average Loan Debt
Field of Study	Yearly	Monthly	Yearly	Monthly
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$103,661	$8,638	$36,847	$419
Human Resources Management and Services	$72,372	$6,031	$22,818	$260
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$61,637	$5,136	$28,117	$320
Accounting and Related Services	$59,030	$4,919	$22,410	$255
Educational Administration and Supervision	$58,930	$4,911	$16,418	$187
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$52,869	$4,406	$41,000	$466
Public Administration	$48,670	$4,056	$26,000	$296
Health and Medical Administrative Services	$48,322	$4,027	$14,240	$162
Social Work	$47,731	$3,978	$25,807	$294
Student Counseling and Personnel Services	$42,994	$3,583	$41,000	$466
Education, General	$42,470	$3,539	$22,137	$252

Doctoral Programs - Highest Earning After Graduation
Field of Study	Average Salary (2020)		Average Loan Debt
Field of Study	Yearly	Monthly	Yearly	Monthly
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions	$68,635	$5,720	$69,085	$786

Popular Programs with Most Completers

Following programs are popular with most enrolled students at Western Carolina University.

At the school, the Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse Bachelor program has the most completers of 238 and the Business Administration and Management Bachelor program has the second most completers of 225 students.

Popular Bachelor Programs
Field of Study	Number of Completers	Men	Women
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse	238	34	204
Business Administration and Management	225	100	125
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies	143	66	77
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences	141	32	109
Psychology	136	29	107
Public Administration	107	65	42
Biology/Biological Sciences	78	28	50
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching	67	-	67
Marketing/Marketing Management	65	29	36
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)	59	36	23

Popular Master Programs
Field of Study	Number of Completers	Men	Women
Social Work	69	10	59
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration	49	8	41
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse	38	4	34
Health/Health Care Administration/Management	31	10	21
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services	30	14	16
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management	29	16	13
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Oth (other)	29	3	26
Business Administration, Management and Operations (other)	28	18	10
Education	27	-	27
Communication Sciences and Disorders	27	-	27

Popular Doctoral Programs
Field of Study	Number of Completers	Men	Women
Educational Leadership and Administration	14	3	11

Popular 1-Year Cert. Programs
Field of Study	Number of Completers	Men	Women
History	2	-	2
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management	1	1	-
Music Technology	1	1	-

Field of Study by Degree and Number of Completers

Below tables describes the major programs by offered degrees. You can check the online learning availability of each programs with number of completers. By expanding each table, you can view the major programs in the area of study that you select.

What is Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Environmental Science	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	29	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Natural Resources Management and Policy	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	23	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Communication and Journalism program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
American Indian/Native American Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	1^ONLINE

What is Computer and Information Sciences program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Speech Communication and Rhetoric	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	58	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	18	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Education program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Computer Science	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	22	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Engineering program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	27^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Educational Leadership and Administration	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	18^ONLINE	14	12^ONLINE
Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	1	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Special Education and Teaching	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	19	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0
Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	11	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	30	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Elementary Education and Teaching	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	58	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	44	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	67^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Oth (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	29^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Art Teacher Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	6	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
English/Language Arts Teacher Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	6	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Mathematics Teacher Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	3	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Music Teacher Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	17	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	12	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	4	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Social Studies Teacher Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	5	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Spanish Language Teacher Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Engineering Technology program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Engineering	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	45	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Electrical and Electronics Engineering	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	17	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Engineering Technology	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	7^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	15	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	48	25^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is English Language and Literature program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Spanish Language and Literature	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	11	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
English Language and Literature	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	46	13	NOT OFFERED	0

What is Biological and Biomedical Sciences program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	4	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Mathematics and Statistics program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Biology/Biological Sciences	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	78	7	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Mathematics	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	20	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Mathematics and Statistics	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0

What is Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
International/Global Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	10	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Philosophy and Religious Studies program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	31	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	36	29^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Outdoor Education	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	17^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Physical Sciences program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Philosophy	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	12	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Psychology program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Chemistry	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	13	3	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Forensic Chemistry	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	29	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Geology/Earth Science	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	8	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Psychology	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	136	10	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Clinical Psychology	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0	NOT OFFERED
School Psychology	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	4	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Human Services program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	143^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Social Sciences program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Public Administration	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	107^ONLINE	22	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Social Work	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	50	69	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Visual and Performing Arts program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Anthropology	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	39	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Applied Economics	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Political Science and Government	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	22	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Sociology	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	16	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Interior Design	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	23	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	30	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Art/Art Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	5	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Fine/Studio Arts	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	37	0	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Music	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	6	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Music Performance	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	29	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Music Technology	1	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management	1	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is Business program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Communication Sciences and Disorders	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	37	27	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Health/Health Care Administration/Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0	31^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	59^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Athletic Training/Trainer	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0	7	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	0
Environmental Health	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	9	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Physical Therapy/Therapist	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	46	NOT OFFERED
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	25	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Dietetics/Dietitian	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	13	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	238^ONLINE	38^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	1
Nursing Practice	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	19^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED

What is History program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Business Administration and Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	225^ONLINE	24	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Business Administration, Management and Operations (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	28^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	35^ONLINE
Accounting	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	40	12^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	8	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Finance	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	57^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Hospitality Administration/Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	29	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	49^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Management Information Systems	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	36	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Marketing/Marketing Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	65^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Marketing (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	55^ONLINE	9^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

What is History program?

	Certificate	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Post-Graduate
Business Administration and Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	225^ONLINE	24	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Business Administration, Management and Operations (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	28^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	35^ONLINE
Accounting	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	40	12^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	8	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Finance	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	57^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Hospitality Administration/Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	29	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	49^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Management Information Systems	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	36	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Marketing/Marketing Management	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	65^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
Marketing (other)	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED	55^ONLINE	9^ONLINE	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED
History	2	NOT OFFERED	44	8	NOT OFFERED	NOT OFFERED

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Major Programs and Degree Completers at Western Carolina

Degree Programs Overview

Programs with Highest Earning After Graduation

Popular Programs with Most Completers

Field of Study by Degree and Number of Completers

Ratings & Review