Western Colorado University

Public · Moderately Selective · CO

Photo: RubyAve (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationCO · West

SettingRural

Undergrads1,586

Student:faculty17:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate34.5%

6-yr grad rate50.5%

Drop-out rate27.6%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$11k

Out-of-state tuition$24k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity24.3%

Gender diversity43.3%

International1.3%

Identity—

Overview

Western Colorado University sits at roughly 7,700 feet in Gunnison, Colorado, surrounded by public lands, and the outdoors functions as an extension of the classroom as much as a backdrop. It is a small public university built around that setting rather than around size or breadth of programs.

Academics

Outdoor recreation, environment and sustainability, and exercise science are the strongest and most distinctive programs, each using the surrounding mountains and public lands directly in coursework rather than teaching them abstractly. Class sizes are small given the university's overall size.

Campus & student life

Crested Butte's ski slopes are a short drive away, and a genuine share of the student body chooses Western specifically for access to skiing, climbing, and other mountain recreation alongside academics. The high elevation and rural, remote setting mean campus life is largely self-contained rather than dependent on a nearby city.

Worth knowing

This is a genuinely good fit for students who want serious outdoor recreation built into their degree rather than treated as a weekend hobby — the outdoor programs here have real academic depth, not just proximity to good terrain.

western.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate99.7%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1163–1353 · ACT 22–26

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying