Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO1 Western Way, Gunnison, CO 81231
970-943-2119
Western Colorado University, located in Gunnison, Colorado, is a public liberal arts university. It is the state’s oldest public four-year institution. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 20 graduate programs. The school has an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The school was founded in 1901 as Western State Normal School, a teacher’s college. The school became Western State College in 1933, and then Western State College of Colorado in 1957. The school achieved university status in 1997.
The university’s campus is located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The campus features a variety of academic and residential buildings, as well as athletic facilities.
The university’s academic programs are divided into five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Health Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts. Within each college, students can choose from a variety of majors and minors.
The university offers a variety of student organizations and clubs, as well as intramural sports. Greek life is also popular on campus, with a number of fraternities and sororities.
The university’s location in the Rocky Mountains provides endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Gunnison is home to several ski resorts, and the nearby town of Crested Butte is a mecca for mountain biking. The university also offers a variety of outdoor recreation programs, including hiking, camping, and rafting.
Western Colorado University is a comprehensive public liberal arts university that offers a high-quality education at an affordable price. The university’s location in the Rocky Mountains provides endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, making it an ideal place to live and learn.
Quick Facts
Enrollment: 3203
Acceptance Rate: 88.50%
Type: Public, 4-year or above
Main Website: https://www.western.edu/
Financial Aid: https://western.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/
Annual Costs
Total Cost In-State On-Campus: $24925
Total Cost Out-State On-Campus: $36709
Return on Investment Rating
The estimated cost for four years as an undergraduate at Western Colorado University is $100088.40. This includes the average cost of attendance for four years plus the interest on the average loan over a ten year repayment minus the average of grants and scholarships per student.
We then contrast this figure with average early-career and mid-career average incomes of graduates of four year programs at Western Colorado University. For graduates of Western Colorado University, we saw an average early-career income of $50100.00 and mid-career income of $84000.00. We then ranked the school's value based on how many years of mid-career income it takes to repay the educational costs.