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Western Colorado University

Western Colorado University

Gunnison, CO · Town · 1,586 students
Website Common App Forbes ranking Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$16,425
Average net priceYour net price
In-state
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
51%
Graduation rate
52% typical
$46,833
Earnings 10 years on
$51,562 typical
100%
Acceptance rate
81% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Gunnison, Western Colorado University is best known for utilizing its high-altitude setting as a living laboratory for immersive, field-based education. The university features standout programs in Environment and Sustainability, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Recreation and Outdoor Education, as well as a distinctive engineering and computer science partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder. Campus culture is adventurous, environmentally conscious, and close-knit, appealing heavily to students who thrive on immediate access to public lands, world-class skiing in nearby Crested Butte, and the university's premier Mountain Sports program.

Wikipedia:Western Colorado University is a public university in Gunnison, Colorado, United States. It enrolls approximately 3,000 undergraduate students and 450 graduate students, with about 28 percent coming from out of state. Western offers more than 110 undergraduate areas of study and 8 graduate programs, many of which are available through accelerated degree pathways.

Location
Gunnison, CO, 81231 · Town campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
DEN · Denver
150 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$11,318$24,434
Housing & food (on campus)$10,760$10,760
Books & supplies$1,350$1,350
Cost of attendance$25,736$38,852 est.
Average net price$16,425Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$24,434
In-state: $11,318
Housing & food (on campus)$10,760
Books & supplies$1,350
Cost of attendance$38,852 est.
In-state: $25,736
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $16,425
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students
$0–30k
$11,490
$30–48k
$10,868
$48–75k
$13,908
$75–110k
$16,928
$110k+
$21,396
Grants from the school
86% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $5,942
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
51%
Within 4 yrs
35%
Back for yr 2
72%
Transferred
0%
Pell students: 43.8% · others: 52.8% 
8 yrs after starting
48% graduated · 34% transferred · 18% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$40,037
10 yrs after entry$46,833
Debt
Median at graduation$20,250
Monthly payment$215
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$22.5k
90th percentile$30,500
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
100%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1230
R 608–683 · M 555–670
ACT midpoint
24
Comp 22–26 · E 21–27 · M 20–24
SAT middle 50%: 1163–1353
40080012001600
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 99.7% · women 99.7% 
Yield: 11.5% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts

If Western Colorado University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 57%Women 43%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
17 : 1
Pell grant
12%
First-gen
25%
Family income
$61,406
Independent
15%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
10%
Where first-years come from
In state (CO)
61.9%
Out of state
37.5%
International
0.0%

Most out-of-state first-years from: CA 21 · TX 17 · AZ 11 · ID 7 · IL 7

Race & ethnicity
White
76%
Hispanic
11%
Black
3%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
1%
AI/AN
1%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division II with football
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Soccer
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Wrestling
    Men's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs
After 6 yrs
$40,037
After 10 yrs
$46,833
Business Administration, Management and Operations77
Biology, General43
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness32
Psychology, General32
Natural Resources Conservation and Research24
Computer and Information Sciences, General21
Fine and Studio Arts21
Communication and Media Studies19
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies17
Sociology16
Economics12
Political Science and Government12
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods11
Mathematics11
English Language and Literature, General10
History9
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$9M
Full-time faculty
68%
Faculty salary
$7,628/mo
Teaching spend
$14,568
per student
Federal loans
20%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (medium programs)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if Western Colorado University is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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Scholarship search