Western Colorado University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Gunnison, Colorado. It enrolls 1,586 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes36
Value56
Affordability36
Selectivity30
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 99.7%, Western Colorado University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
99.7%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1163 – 1353
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Western Colorado University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
13.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Western Colorado University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,425 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,425
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,318
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$24,434
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,760
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,785
Books & Supplies
$1,350
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,294
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,294
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,736
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,490
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,868
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,908
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,928
Over $110,000
$21,396
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$20,250Medianpercentile
$22,50075%percentile
$30,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,190
↓ $6,060
No Pell $10,912
↓ $9,338
Dependent students $11,785
↓ $8,465
Independent students $16,892
↓ $3,358
Female students $11,910
↓ $8,340
Male students $12,500
↓ $7,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($20,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Colorado University graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Colorado University earn a median of $46,833 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,833
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,100, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
20.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western Colorado University is home to 1,586 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,586
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.7%1,200
Hispanic 11.2%177
Other 5.2%83
Black 3.2%50
International 1.3%21
Asian 1.2%19
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Colorado University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteGunnison, Colorado
Housing
Strongly residential1,263 beds for 1,586 students
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Western Colorado University offers
a varied set of programs:
32 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Colorado University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$19,990
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$8.8M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,550
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
139 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
48
35%
$83,796
Associate Professors
8
6%
$66,078
Assistant Professors
23
17%
$67,730
Instructors
1
1%
$73,500
Lecturers
59
42%
$54,361
Pros & Cons of Western Colorado University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Colorado University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Western Colorado University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Colorado University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Colorado University.
Is Western Colorado University hard to get into?
Western Colorado University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 99.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Colorado University?
Western Colorado University has an acceptance rate of 99.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Western Colorado University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Western Colorado University scored between 1163 and 1353 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Western Colorado University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Western Colorado University scored between 22 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Western Colorado University cost?
The average net price after aid at Western Colorado University is $16,425 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Colorado University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,833 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,425 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western Colorado University known for?
Western Colorado University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Education, General, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western Colorado University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Colorado University are $46,833, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western Colorado University accredited?
Yes. Western Colorado University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Western Colorado University?
Western Colorado University enrolls 1,586 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western Colorado University?
Western Colorado University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western Colorado University a public or private college?
Western Colorado University is a Public institution.
Where is Western Colorado University located?
Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, Colorado.
What programs does Western Colorado University offer?
Western Colorado University offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Education, General, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Colorado University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Colorado University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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