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Western Colorado University

Western

Gunnison, Colorado 81231

Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPublicBusiness Focus

Known for business — excellent value

Western Colorado University is a public institution in Gunnison with particular strength in business and biology. With an average SAT of 1130, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.7K undergraduates with a 18:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

51% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $46,833 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $16,773.

Established

1901

Motto

Potestas ad Ministrandum

Type

Public university

Conference

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) at the NCAA Division II level

Division

Division II

Campus Visits

35 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Visit

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97%Acceptance

1130SAT Avg

1,653Students

18:1Student:Faculty

51%Grad Rate

$46,833Earnings 10yr

$16,773Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Western Colorado University Launches New Data Science Minor

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tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

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Admissions

Acceptance Rate97.5%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1130

Reading & WritingMid: 580

500630

MathMid: 555

500610

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 24

2128

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

97.5%

Trend

SAT Avg

1130

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$11,083

Tuition (out-of-state)$23,683

Room & Board$10,442

Books & Supplies$1,350

Total Cost of Attendance$25,426

Average Net Price$16,773

Median Debt at Graduation$20,250

Monthly Payment (10yr)$215

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$10,573

$30–48K$9,926

$48–75K$15,090

$75–110K$18,658

$110K+$21,621

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$16,773

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

77.4%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

SAT Range	Avg Award	Note
1400-1600	$25,000	Academic merit scholarship
1200-1399	$15,000	Dean's scholarship
1000-1199	$8,000	Achievement award

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

Peer Average

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

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Programs (33)

Student Life

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Student Body

Undergrads

1,653

Gender Split

43% / 57%

Women / Men

First Generation

25%

Pell Grant Recipients

13%

Race & Ethnicity

White 72%

Black 3%

Hispanic 13%

Asian 1%

Two+ 4%

Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate50.7%

Freshman Retention72.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$40,037

8 Years$43,861

10 Years$46,833

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women

$36,400

Men

$47,500

Rankings

Forbes

#100

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More About This School

Varsity Sports

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Rankings

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History & Fun Facts

•History Western was established in 1901 and opened for classes in 1911 as the Colorado State Normal School, the first college on the Western Slope.
•In 1923 the college's name was changed to Western State College of Colorado in recognition of its expanding programs in the liberal arts at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
•In 2012, the institution was renamed Western State Colorado University.
•In September 2018, the institution changed its name to Western Colorado University.
•^ "2013–2014 University Catalog" (PDF).

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Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°

Sep

55°

Oct

42°

Nov

30°

Dec

25°

Jan

28°

Feb

38°

Mar

50°

Apr

62°

May

Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647

90 miles(95 min)

Hartfordpop. 121,054

60 miles(70 min)

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Getting There

Nearest Airports

DEN Denver150 mi

ABQ Albuquerque243 mi

SLC Salt Lake City310 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1889 mi · ~54h 34m drive

New York, NY1748 mi · ~50h 30m drive

Hartford, CT1810 mi · ~52h 17m drive

Providence, RI1874 mi · ~54h 8m drive

Albany, NY1751 mi · ~50h 35m drive

Syracuse, NY1630 mi · ~47h 5m drive

Rochester, NY1556 mi · ~44h 57m drive

Buffalo, NY1491 mi · ~43h 4m drive

Philadelphia, PA1693 mi · ~48h 55m drive

Pittsburgh, PA1436 mi · ~41h 29m drive

Harrisburg, PA1600 mi · ~46h 13m drive

Newark, NJ1739 mi · ~50h 14m drive

Washington, DC1604 mi · ~46h 20m drive

Baltimore, MD1622 mi · ~46h 51m drive

Atlanta, GA1296 mi · ~37h 26m drive

Charlotte, NC1454 mi · ~42h drive

Raleigh, NC1563 mi · ~45h 9m drive

Miami, FL1786 mi · ~51h 36m drive

Orlando, FL1618 mi · ~46h 45m drive

Tampa, FL1585 mi · ~45h 47m drive

Nashville, TN1116 mi · ~32h 14m drive

New Orleans, LA1128 mi · ~32h 35m drive

Richmond, VA1599 mi · ~46h 12m drive

Chicago, IL1041 mi · ~30h 4m drive

Detroit, MI1278 mi · ~36h 55m drive

Minneapolis, MN830 mi · ~23h 59m drive

St. Louis, MO902 mi · ~26h 3m drive

Kansas City, MO665 mi · ~19h 13m drive

Indianapolis, IN1113 mi · ~32h 9m drive

Columbus, OH1280 mi · ~36h 59m drive

Cleveland, OH1345 mi · ~38h 51m drive

Milwaukee, WI1039 mi · ~30h 1m drive

Dallas, TX694 mi · ~20h 3m drive

Houston, TX896 mi · ~25h 53m drive

Austin, TX774 mi · ~22h 22m drive

San Antonio, TX793 mi · ~22h 55m drive

Los Angeles, CA702 mi · ~20h 17m drive

San Francisco, CA843 mi · ~24h 21m drive

San Diego, CA702 mi · ~20h 17m drive

Seattle, WA995 mi · ~28h 45m drive

Portland, OR939 mi · ~27h 8m drive

Denver, CO132 mi · ~3h 49m drive

Phoenix, AZ455 mi · ~13h 9m drive

Salt Lake City, UT305 mi · ~8h 49m drive

Honolulu, HI3228 mi · ~93h 15m drive

Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

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Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park

Visitor parking lot

Free parking with visitor pass

9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions

Admissions Office

10:00 AMInformation session

Welcome Center

45 minutes

11:00 AMCampus tour

Starts at Welcome Center

75 minutes, student-led

12:30 PMLunch

Main Dining Hall

Visitor meal passes available

1:30 PMDepartment visit

Academic buildings

Schedule with department directly

2:30 PMExplore campus independently

Library, student center, residence halls

Nearby Hotels

Budget

University Inn10% campus visitor discount

$89-129

0.5 mi

Mid-Range

Marriott Conference Center

Upscale

Airport Transit

Denver (DEN)150 miles

Rental car

225 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

300 min$180-300

Albuquerque (ABQ)243 miles

Rental car

365 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

486 min$292-486

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Schools Like This

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Deadline Calendar

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Western Colorado University Application Checklist

0/9 items complete

Common Application or Coalition Application

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Official High School Transcript

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School Report + Counselor Recommendation

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Two Teacher Recommendations

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SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

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Western Colorado University Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

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CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

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Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

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Interview (recommended)Optional

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Decision Notifications

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