Federal data, not an estimate: the middle 50% of Western Carolina University's enrolled students and what to do with it.
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The middle 50% of enrolled students at Western Carolina University scored 1080–1270 on the SAT — Reading and Writing 560–660, Math 520–610 — per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. A score at or above 1270 clears the band entirely; inside it, the upper half is the safer target. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants, so the score is one input among several, not a cutoff.
| 25th percentile | 75th percentile | |
|---|---|---|
| SAT total | 1080 | 1270 |
| Reading and Writing | 560 | 660 |
| Math | 520 | 610 |
A middle 50% means a quarter of enrolled students scored below 1080 and a quarter scored above 1270. It is a description of who enrolled, not an admission rule — people are admitted from below the band every cycle, and rejected from above it.
Federal data reports the students who enrolled. Admitted-student bands run slightly higher at most schools, because some of the strongest admits enrol elsewhere. Treat the band as a floor for planning, not a ceiling.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Admission rate | about 82% |
| Enrolled undergraduates | about 10k |
| Location | Cullowhee, NC |
Work by section, not by mixed test. If Math is the weaker section, the Math domain pages split it into the skills the test actually samples; same for Reading and Writing. The method is set out in how to improve your SAT Math score and Reading and Writing.
Free SAT practice with an explanation on every question, and a score estimate that tracks your distance to a target.
The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 1080–1270. A score in the upper half of that band is competitive, and 1270+ clears it entirely. There is no published cutoff.
A quarter of enrolled students did. Below the 25th percentile the rest of the application has to carry more weight, and a retake pays off most in this position.
Yes — 1270 is the 75th percentile of enrolled students, so it is above three quarters of the class. Past that point, more points buy little.
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (IPEDS), retrieved 2026-09-01. The page links the school's federal profile below — check it before deciding anything.