Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO
Western Colorado University is a public liberal arts university located in Gunnison, Colorado. With a stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, the university offers a unique and enriching educational experience for its students. Founded in 1901 as a teacher's college, Western Colorado University has grown into a comprehensive university with a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines.
What sets Western Colorado University apart is its commitment to personalized education. The university boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1, ensuring that students receive individual attention and guidance from their professors. This close-knit community allows for meaningful interactions, fosters a supportive learning environment, and cultivates strong mentorship relationships. Furthermore, the university offers experiential learning opportunities such as internships, research projects, and field experiences to enhance the academic journey and prepare students for their future careers.
Western Colorado University prides itself on its strong academic programs and diverse range of majors that cater to students' individual interests and passions. Whether it's in the fields of business, arts and sciences, education, environmental studies, or professional studies, students have the opportunity to pursue their chosen paths with dedicated faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. The university also offers a range of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations to ensure a well-rounded experience for its students. With its breathtaking location, personalized attention, and quality academic programs, Western Colorado University offers a unique and fulfilling educational experience.
Located in Gunnison, CO and set in a rural environment, Western Colorado University is a public comprehensive higher education institution. It has a campus size of 381 acres. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 91%. The freshman retention rate at Western Colorado University is 76.54% and the six-year graduation rate is 47%.
Here are some important information on important things to consider about Western Colorado University.
Quick Facts
3,098
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
91%
Acceptance Rate
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
47%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most vital data you need to know about admission at Western Colorado University.
In 2022, the school accepted 2,862 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
37% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 14% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 4.38% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 34.37% between 1,200 and 1,399, 41.25% between 1,000 and 1,199, 18.75% of the students between 800 and 999, and 1.25% between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 15.25, 44.07 between 24-29, 37.29 in the range between 18-23, and 3.39 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.39. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2022, the freshman retention rate for Western Colorado University was 76.54%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 47%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the optimal place for you is not simple. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2022, the school had an enrollment of 3,551 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 27% for that year. There was a total of 3,098 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 7 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 106.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,042 male and 859 female full-time students in 2022. This school had 116 full-time graduate male and 199 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2022, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 21, and the number of African American students was 57. 201 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 74 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 16 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 114 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Western Colorado University estimated tuition costs.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $6,816. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $19,728 in 2022. If you are an international student at Western Colorado University, you should know that the 2022 tuition amounted to $19,728, as well. Full-time students in 2022 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $3,955.25.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,728 | $3,955 | $23,683 |
| In-State | $8,936 | $3,955 | $12,891 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The estimated price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,350.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2022, the price of room and board at Western Colorado University was $10,286 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2022 stood at $5,304 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $10,485.
| Tuition | $ 8,936 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,286 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,350 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,572 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for most students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Western Colorado University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 259 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $13,631.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
906 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Western Colorado University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 909. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $2,159,275, and state $1,247,570. The students of Western Colorado University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $5,273,527, and external in the amount of $336,676.
$5,047
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 892 students overall (including freshmen) at Western Colorado University in 2022. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 250 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $3,118,024. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $403,270 USD.
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Western Colorado University was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 141 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 98 male and 56 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Western Colorado University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at Western Colorado University.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 60 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that is most favored by students is Program Council, followed by Peak Productions and Omicron Delta Kappa. Other popular organizations at Western Colorado University are Mountain Search and Rescue Team and Student Government Association.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a passion for media and communication? Western Colorado University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Western Colorado University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Western Colorado University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Western Colorado University.
Career Counselling
At Western Colorado University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, CO.
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Western Colorado University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Western Colorado University is 91%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Western Colorado University is 76.54%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.