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Western Colorado University

Western

Gunnison, Colorado 81231

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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
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

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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

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate97.5%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1130

Reading & WritingMid: 580
500630
MathMid: 555
500610

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 24
2128

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

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

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

77.4%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (33)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

73%

Negative
  • •73% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

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
10 Years$46,833

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

Forbes
#100
↓1
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

VolleyballSoccerWrestlingSwimming divingBaseballBoxingIce hockeyLacrosseRugby

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.

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)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

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)

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

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

Deadline Calendar

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Western Colorado University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Western Colorado University — v2 Preview — TourStack