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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.
Western Colorado University is a public upper-level higher education institution with graduate programs located in Gunnison, CO. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 99%. The freshman retention rate at Western Colorado University is 72.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 47%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 22. Here are some current data on important things to consider about Western Colorado University.
Quick Facts
3,149
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
47%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. What are the admission requirements for Western Colorado University?
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,106 in 2025.
Test Scores
10% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 7% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 8.11% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 59.46% between 1,200 and 1,399, 24.32% between 1,000 and 1,199, 5.41% between 800 and 999, and 2.7% of the students between 400 and 599. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 11.1, 40.74 between 24-29, 44.44 in the range between 18-23, and 3.72 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 24 while the average GPA was 3.45. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Western Colorado University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 640 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 610.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 22.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Western Colorado University was 72.1%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 47%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the right place for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Western Colorado University in 2025 was 3,569.
There was a total of 3,149 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 21 international students. 97 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 912 male and 819 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Western Colorado University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 20, and the number of Afro-American students was 50. 179 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 43 as multirace. The school also had 3 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 18 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 32 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Western Colorado University.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Western Colorado University? Here is what you need to know.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $7,308. Tuition fees were $20,424 for students coming from a different state. For international students, tuition fees at this school totaled $20,424, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $4,010.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $20,424 | $4,010 | $24,434 |
| In-State | $7,308 | $4,010 | $11,318 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,350.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
At Western Colorado University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $10,760. If you only wanted a room on the campus, it cost $5,463 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 7,308 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,760 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,350 |
| Total Expense | $ 19,418 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Western Colorado University.
According to the most recent data, 181 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $14,409 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 552 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 ended up being 687. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $2,754,363, and state $1,757,538. The students of Western Colorado University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $4,410,365, and external in the amount of $240,656.
$6,717
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for 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.
566 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 158 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $2,754,363 while the state aid is $1,665. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $3,395,104. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $440,628 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Western Colorado University was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 164. This number included 84 men and 77 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about campus life at Western Colorado University.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 55 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Pre-Health Club, followed by Multicultural Center and Young Life. Other popular organizations among the students at Western Colorado University are Pi Sigma Epsilon and Western Energy Management Club.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For individuals with an interest in 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 required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health 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
There are job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent 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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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Western Colorado University is 99%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Western Colorado University is 72.1%.
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.
