Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO · Public · Town (remote) · WCU · Western
Public institution in Gunnison, CO · 1,653 undergraduates · 97% acceptance rate · $46,833 median earnings 10 years after entry.
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $16,773807th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $11,083695th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $23,6831,033rd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $25,426713th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $20,250668th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $46,8331,256th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $40,0371,225th highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 50.7%1,130th highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 72.9%1,091st highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 97.5%1,490th most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1130577th highest of 1,024 reporting
- Median ACT
- 24421st highest of 954 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 1,6531,049th largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 18.0:11,713th smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 13.5%1,988th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 150 mi (DEN)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- Free
- Personal essay
- Optional / not required
- Writing supplement
- No
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 24 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer ProgrammingComputer Science | bachelors | $52,107 | $54,435 |
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $48,041 | $46,087 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $39,271 | $33,281 |
| EconomicsSocial Sciences | bachelors | $37,208 | — |
| Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness | bachelors | $37,208 | $28,405 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNatural Resources | bachelors | $35,416 | $25,194 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesPhysical Sciences | bachelors | $33,266 | — |
| SociologySocial Sciences | bachelors | $30,409 | $28,381 |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | $30,119 | $29,685 |
| Psychology, GeneralPsychology | bachelors | $27,181 | $27,874 |
| Fine and Studio ArtsVisual & Performing Arts | bachelors | $26,121 | — |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | $25,967 | $27,947 |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1901source
- Athletic nickname: "Mountaineers"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
- School colors: Crimsonsource
- Motto: "Potestas ad Ministrandum"source
- Formerly known as "Colorado State Normal School" (1901–1923)source
- Formerly known as "Western State College of Colorado" (1923–2012)source
- Formerly known as "Western State Colorado University" (2012–2018)source
- Athletic conference: Rocky Mountainsource
- Plays for the "Colorado Classic Trophy" (since 1934)source
- Fight song: ""Western State Fight Song""source
Athletics — 7 sports
NCAA Division II with football · NCAA Division II
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $2,307,129 (M $1,363,034 · W $944,095)
- Basketball
- Football
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving (combined)
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Key links
- Official websitewestern.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 128391)
- Compare colleges in CORe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in ColoradoEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: Western Colorado University vs Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 7 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.