Western Colorado University

www.western.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$6,816

2021 Average Net Price

$17,490

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

1.49%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

90.9%

3,243 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

3,689

52.8% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

47.6%

221 Graduates

About

Western Colorado University is a higher education institution located in Gunnison County, CO. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Colorado University were General Business Administration & Management (63 degrees awarded), General Biological Sciences (41 degrees), and Environmental Studies (33 degrees).

In 2021, 519 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Colorado University. 49.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 50.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (398 degrees), 8.12 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (49 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Colorado University is $6,816, which is $−16,368 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Colorado University is $6,816, which is $−16,368 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $17,490.

In 2021, 60% of undergraduate students attending Western Colorado University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 30% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$6,816

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Western Colorado University was $6,816. The cost of tuition at Western Colorado University is $−16,368 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Western Colorado University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$17,490

2021 Value

3.18%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Western Colorado University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,490. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Western Colorado University grew by 3.18%.

This chart compares the average net price of Western Colorado University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$10,657

Room and Board

$1,300

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Colorado University was of $10,657 in 2021. The cost of room and board decreased by 0.884% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,300. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Western Colorado University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

60%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

30%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

60% of undergraduate students at Western Colorado University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 15.4% with respect to 2020, when 52% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Western Colorado University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.49%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Western Colorado University was 1.49%, which represents 9 out of the 606 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Western Colorado University received 3,243 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 23.5% annual growth. Out of those 3,243 applicants, 2,947 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 90.9% acceptance rate.

There were 3,689 students enrolled at Western Colorado University in 2021. 37% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Colorado University has an overall enrollment yield of 15.5%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

90.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

2,947

Accepted Out of 3,243

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Colorado University was 90.9% (2,947 admissions from 3,243 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 88.5%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 23.5%, while admissions grew by 26.9%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Colorado University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

37%

Submission Percentage (2021)

169

Scores Submitted (2021)

37% of enrolled first-time students at Western Colorado University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Colorado University had a total enrollment of 3,689 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Western Colorado University is 1,947 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,742. This means that 52.8% of students enrolled at Western Colorado University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Colorado University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 57.5% White, 21.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.28% Black or African American, 3.42% Two or More Races, 1.79% Asian, 1.08% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.352% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Colorado University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (40.6%), followed by White Female (29.7%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (5.65%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (53.3%), followed by White Male (26.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.63%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

52.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Colorado University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,689 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Colorado University is 1,947 and the part-time enrollment is 1,742. This means that 52.8% of students enrolled at Western Colorado University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.3% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Western Colorado University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

74%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Western Colorado University was 74%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), Western Colorado University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Western Colorado University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
2,121 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
777 enrolled students
Black or African American
158 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Colorado University is 57.5% White, 21.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.28% Black or African American, 3.42% Two or More Races, 1.79% Asian, 1.08% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.352% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 52% White, 16.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.8% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 376 students (10.2%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 7 fewer women than men received degrees from Western Colorado University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Western Colorado University is white (398 degrees awarded). There were 8.12 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (49 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Colorado University is General Business Administration & Management (63 degrees awarded), followed by General Biological Sciences (41 degrees) and Environmental Studies (33 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Western Colorado University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Natural Resources & Conservation (62 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (57 degrees), and English (27 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Physicians

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Colorado University are Physicians (424,461 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (401,772 people), Other managers (377,358 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (292,722 people), and Postsecondary teachers (270,111 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Colorado University in 2021 are Natural Resources & Conservation (62 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (57 degrees), English (27 degrees), Biology (50 degrees), and Social Sciences (56 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Colorado University are Surgeons, Physicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Nurse anesthetists

The most specialized majors at Western Colorado University are Natural Resources & Conservation (62 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (57 degrees), English (27 degrees), Biology (50 degrees), and Social Sciences (56 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Colorado University are Elementary & secondary schools (661,043 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (622,937 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (614,355 people), Legal services (324,702 people), and Computer Systems Design (254,166 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Western Colorado University.

Most Common (2021)

General Business Administration & Management
63 degree-majors awarded
General Biological Sciences
41 degree-majors awarded
Environmental Studies
33 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Colorado University was General Business Administration & Management with 63 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Western Colorado University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

263

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

256

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 263 degrees were awarded to men at Western Colorado University, which is 1.03 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (256).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Western Colorado University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 63 degrees were awarded to men at Western Colorado University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 2.86 times more than the 22 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 37 degrees were awarded to men at Western Colorado University in General Education, which is 2.47 times more than the 15 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

28%

100% Completion Time

51%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 28% of students graduating from Western Colorado University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 51% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 54% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (75%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Western Colorado University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (75% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 4.98% of graduates (11 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
398 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
49 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
17 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Colorado University is white (398 degrees awarded). There were 8.12 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (49 degrees).

7.13% of degree recipients (37 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
204 degrees awarded
White Male
194 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
26 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Colorado University is white female (204 degrees awarded). There were 1.05 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (194 degrees).

Operations

Western Colorado University has an endowment valued at nearly $10.2M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of −NaNk (−4.7%) compared to the 13.1% average return (6.61M on 50.4M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2021, Western Colorado University had a total salary expenditure of 54.3M. Western Colorado University employs 49 Lecturers, 49 Professors and 23 Assistant professors. Most academics at Western Colorado University are Male Professor (32), Male Lecturer (28), and Female Lecturer (21).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Colorado University are: Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 43 employees, Service, with 33 employees, and Management with 30 employees.

Endowment

$10.2M

2021 Endowment

13.1%

growth from 2020

Western Colorado University has an endowment valued at about $10.2M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Colorado University grew 13.1% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $40.2M lower than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Western Colorado University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$21.5M

2021 Salaries

0.867%

growth from 2020

In 2021, Western Colorado University paid a median of $21.5M in salaries, which represents 39.6% of their overall expenditure ($54.3M) and a 0.867% growth from the previous year.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 35.1M (41.3% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$8.32M

Instructional Salaries

133

Number of Employees

In 2021, Western Colorado University paid a total of $8.32M to 133 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11M (31.3%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Lecturer

Most Common Instructor

49 Employees

Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

43 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Colorado University were Lecturer with 49 employees, Professor with 49 employees, and Assistant professor with 23 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Colorado University were Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 43 employees, Service with 33 employees, and Management with 30 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Male Lecturer
Female Lecturer

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Colorado University was Male Professor with 32 employees, Male Lecturer with 28 employees, and Female Lecturer with 21 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Western Colorado University.