Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO · Public · offers Graduate degrees
100%Acceptance rate
$16,425Average net price / year
51%Graduation rate
$46,833Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$20,250Median debt at graduation
1,586Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $11,318
- Out-of-state tuition
- $24,434
- Total cost of attendance
- $25,736
- Room & board
- $10,760
- Books & supplies
- $1,350
- Average net price
- $16,425
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $11,490
- $30–48k
- $10,868
- $48–75k
- $13,908
- $75–110k
- $16,928
- $110k+
- $21,396
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 99.7%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 608–683
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 555–670
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 22–26
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 51%
- First-year retention
- 72%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $40,037
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $46,833
- Median debt (graduates)
- $20,250
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 12%
- Students with federal loans
- 20%
Programs: what graduates earn
16 of 38 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 12 | $53,403 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 6 | $47,204 | — |
| Sociology | 16 | $43,178 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 77 | $41,886 | $22,470 |
| Psychology, General | 32 | $32,352 | $26,000 |
| Political Science and Government | 12 | $30,272 | $24,000 |
| Biology, General | 43 | $29,881 | $17,065 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 24 | $26,123 | $19,646 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 17 | $25,903 | $14,753 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 32 | $21,038 | $23,375 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 19 | $37,581 | $20,750 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 10 | $39,414 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 6 | $45,525 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 21 | $36,678 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, General | 50 | $51,949 | $22,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 41 | $37,354 | $39,488 |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,586
- Graduate students
- 621
- Part-time
- 10%
- Women / men
- 43% / 57%
- White
- 76%
- Hispanic
- 11%
- Black
- 3%
- Asian
- 1%
- International
- 1%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 17:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $68,652 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 68%
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Website
- www.western.edu
- Also known as
- Western
Most popular fields
- Natural Resources & Conservation – 6% of degrees
- Communication & Journalism – 2% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 8% of degrees
- Education – 2% of degrees
- English – 4% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 8% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Western Colorado University?
99.7% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1230 on the SAT.
How much does Western Colorado University cost?
The average net price after grants is $16,425 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $11,318 and the full cost of attendance is $25,736.
How much do Western Colorado University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $46,833 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
51% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.