Western Colorado University

www.western.edu/

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2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$6,816

2.9% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$16,951

After Financial Aid

2020 Acceptance Rate

88.5%

2,625 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

3,203

60.9% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

50.4%

225 Graduates

About

Western Colorado University is a higher education institution located in Gunnison County, CO. In 2020, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Western Colorado University were General Business Administration & Management (82 degrees awarded), General Psychology (51 degrees), and General Biological Sciences (50 degrees).

In 2020, 624 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Colorado University. 48.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 51.4% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (474 degrees), 7.29 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (65 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Colorado University is $6,816, which is $−15,714 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($22,531).

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Colorado University is $6,816, which is $−15,714 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($22,531).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $16,951.

In 2020, 52% of undergraduate students attending Western Colorado University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 32% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$6,816

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at Western Colorado University was $6,816. The cost of tuition at Western Colorado University is $−15,714 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($22,531).

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

Average Net Price

$16,951

2020 Value

2.18%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 Western Colorado University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,951. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of Western Colorado University grew by 2.18%.

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

$10,752

Room and Board

$1,300

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Colorado University was of $10,752 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,300. The cost of room and board increased by 1.52% between 2019 and 2020. 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

52%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

32%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

52% of undergraduate students at Western Colorado University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a decline of 26.8% with respect to 2019, when 71% 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.

Admissions

Western Colorado University received 2,625 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 4.83% annual growth. Out of those 2,625 applicants, 2,323 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 88.5% acceptance rate.

There were 3,203 students enrolled at Western Colorado University in 2020, and 84% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Colorado University has an overall enrollment yield of 18.1%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

88.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

2,323

Accepted Out of 2,625

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Colorado University was 88.5% (2,323 admissions from 2,625 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 84.1%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants grew by 4.83%, while admissions grew by 10.3%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Colorado University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

84%

Submission Percentage

345

Scores Submitted

84% of enrolled first-time students at Western Colorado University in 2020 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 has a total enrollment of 3,203 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Colorado University is 1,950 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,253. This means that 60.9% of students enrolled at Western Colorado University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Colorado University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 59.4% White, 17.5% Hispanic or Latino, 4.5% Black or African American, 4.12% Two or More Races, 2% Asian, 0.531% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.312% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Colorado University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (38.1%), followed by White Female (30.7%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (4.64%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (53.6%), followed by White Male (30.5%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.29%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

60.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Colorado University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,203 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Colorado University is 1,950 and the part-time enrollment is 1,253. This means that 60.9% of students enrolled at Western Colorado University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.8% 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

67%

2020 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 67%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (75%), Western Colorado University had a retention rate lower 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

White
1,904
Hispanic or Latino
559
Black or African American
144

The enrolled student population at Western Colorado University is 59.4% White, 17.5% Hispanic or Latino, 4.5% Black or African American, 4.12% Two or More Races, 2% Asian, 0.531% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.312% 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 52.6% White, 16.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 13% 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, 368 students (11.5%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 18 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 (474 degrees awarded). There were 7.29 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (65 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Colorado University is General Business Administration & Management (82 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (51 degrees) and General Biological Sciences (50 degrees).

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 (81 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (54 degrees), and English (21 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 (452,450 people), Postsecondary teachers (254,624 people), Other managers (228,937 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (219,861 people), and Other Physical Scientists (141,830 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Colorado University are Natural Resources & Conservation (81 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (54 degrees), English (21 degrees), Physical Sciences (19 degrees), and Biology (58 degrees).

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, Derrick, rotary drill, & service unit operators, & roustabouts, oil, gas, & mining, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Nurse anesthetists

Common Industries by Major

General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals

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 General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (567,461 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (529,182 people), Elementary & secondary schools (465,283 people), Offices of physicians (221,892 people), and Scientific research & development services (184,714 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

General Business Administration & Management
82 degree-majorss awarded
General Psychology
51 degree-majorss awarded
General Biological Sciences
50 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Colorado University was General Business Administration & Management with 82 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

321

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

303

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 321 degrees were awarded to men at Western Colorado University, which is 1.06 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (303).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 73 degrees were awarded to men at Western Colorado University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 2.35 times more than the 31 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 50 degrees were awarded to women at Western Colorado University in General Education, which is 3.13 times more than the 16 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

24%

100% Completion Time

48%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 24% of students graduating from Western Colorado University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 48% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 50% 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.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Western Colorado University is Female and Asian (100% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

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, 3.56% of graduates (8 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
474 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
65 degrees awarded
Unknown
42 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Colorado University is white (474 degrees awarded). There were 7.29 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (65 degrees).

6.73% of degree recipients (42 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Male
240 degrees awarded
White Female
234 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
35 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Colorado University is white male (240 degrees awarded). There were 1.03 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (234 degrees).

Operations

Western Colorado University has an endowment valued at nearly $9.01M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $1.44M (16%), compared to the 3.19% average return ($1.26M on $39.6M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2020, Western Colorado University had a total salary expenditure of $53.8M. Western Colorado University employs 51 Lecturers, 47 Professors, and 22 Assistant professors. Most academics at Western Colorado University are Male Professors (32), Female Lecturers(26), and Male Lecturers (25).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Colorado University are: Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 47 employees, Service, with 34 employees, and Management with 29 employees.

Endowment

$9.01M

2020 Endowment

51.2%

decline from 2019

Western Colorado University has an endowment valued at about $9.01M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Colorado University declined 51.2% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $30.6M 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.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$1.28M - Federal
$1.94M - State
$0 - Local

As of 2020, Western Colorado University received $1.28M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $1.94M from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$21.3M

2020 Salaries

3.29%

growth from 2019

In 2020, Western Colorado University paid a median of $21.3M in salaries, which represents 39.6% of their overall expenditure ($53.8M) and a 3.29% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 3.79% growth from 2018 and a 4.38% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 34.6M (40.9% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$8.11M

Instructional Salaries

136

Number of Employees

In 2020, Western Colorado University paid a total of $8.11M to 136 employees working as instructors, which represents 38% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11M (31.8%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Lecturer

Most Common Instructor

51 Employees

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

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

47 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Colorado University were Lecturer with 51 employees; Professor with 47 employees; and Professor with 22 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Colorado University were Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 47 employees; Service with 34 employees; and Management with 29 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Female Lecturer
Male Lecturer

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Colorado University was Male Professor with 32 employees, Female Lecturer with 26 employees, and Male Lecturer with 25 employees.

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