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Western Colorado University
Admission at Western Colorado University is close to open (99.7%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $46,833 median earnings below before the application.
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Western Colorado University anchors the college town of Gunnison, CO, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Accounting and Related Services, where graduates median $63,922 four years out. 12% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,586 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 72.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1000 and 1240 — near the CO middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Western Colorado University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Western Colorado University received 3,283 applications and admitted 3,200 (97.5%), with 423 enrolling.
Western Colorado University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1000–1240 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Western Colorado University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 560 | 630 |
| SAT Math | 500 | 540 | 610 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 25 | 28 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Western Colorado University compares
| Western Colorado University | Colorado median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 99.7% | 86.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,318 | $12,750 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $46,833 | $53,445 | $53,781 |
At $46,833, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($53,445). Look at Western Colorado University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $11,318 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $24,434. For non-residents, Western Colorado University's $24,434 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Enrollment sits at 1,586 — Western Colorado University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
50.5% graduate within six years. Roughly 50% don't — ask a Western Colorado University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Western Colorado University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,922 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,876 |
| Sociology | $57,359 |
| Biology, General | $50,954 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $49,170 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $48,109 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,426 |
| Psychology, General | $47,401 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $40,636 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $39,865 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $39,414 |
Median earnings for these 11 Western Colorado University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $46,833 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 15 additional Western Colorado University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Western Colorado University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1000–1240 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 99.7% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Western Colorado University's acceptance rate?
97.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,200 admitted from 3,283 applicants.
How much does Western Colorado University cost?
In-state tuition is $11,318; out-of-state students pay $24,434. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Western Colorado University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $46,833 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Colorado
- Colorado State University Pueblo — 94.9% admitted
- Regis University — 86.5% admitted
- University of Northern Colorado — 85.9% admitted
- Naropa University — 100% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.