Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado · Public · 1,586 undergraduates · western.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
96%
of 3,574 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1163 to 1353
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$27,510Est.Estimate
$41,970 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Western Colorado University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
96% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$41,970
a year in 2027-28, from a $41,970 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1260
Send your score
About 83% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1130, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: First Year-Students | Western Colorado University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Aug8Priority deadline · August 8, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
Who gets in
96%
of applicants were admitted: 3,417 of 3,574 for fall 2025.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1163 to 1353
Reading and Writing 608 to 683
Math 555 to 670
ACT composite 22 to 26
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.43
- 4.017%
- 3.75 to 3.9917%
- 3.50 to 3.7417%
- 3.25 to 3.4916%
- 3.00 to 3.2415%
- 2.50 to 2.9913%
- Below 2.506.3%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$27,510
a year, in state
$41,970
a year, out of state (tuition $22,380)
- Tuition (in state)$7,920
- Fees$4,270
- Food and housing$12,290
- Books and supplies$1,430
- Transportation and other$1,600
Western Colorado University published $25,978 in state for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$9,201
- $30,001 to $48,000$9,687
- $48,001 to $75,000$8,951
- $75,001 to $110,000$16,593
- Over $110,000$20,671
Financial aid
86%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$9,523
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
25%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $5,014 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 4/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
40 of 40
Earn credit with a score of 3
39 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $790Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 6 | ART Elective |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 6 | ART Elective |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | General Elective |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 222 |
| Art History | 4 | 6 | ART 222, 223 |
| Biology | 3 | 3 | BIOL 120 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL 150 |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | BIOL 150, 151 |
| Business with Personal Finance | 3 | 3 | BUAD Elective |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 151 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MATH 151 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 151, 251 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | CHEM 101 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 3 | CHEM 111 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 4 | CHEM 111, 112 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | General Elective |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 255 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | CS 190 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CS Elective |
| Cybersecurity (Career Kickstart) | 3 | 3 | CS Elective |
| Drawing | 3 | 6 | ART Elective |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENG 102 |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENG 102, 103 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENG 150 |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENG 102, 150 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | BIOL 130 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | BIOL 130, 135 |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HIST 100 |
| European History | 4 | 6 | HIST 100, HIST Elective |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | General Elective |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | General Elective |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | General Elective |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 120 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | General Elective |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | General Elective |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | General Elective |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON Elective |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 201 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON Elective |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 202 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUS 129 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 140 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 170, 185 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 140 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 171, 186 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 140 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 191, 186 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 140 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 190, 185 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 4 | MATH 141 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY 100 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 102, 201 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 9 | SPAN 102, 201, 202 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 102, 385 (lower div) |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 12 | SPAN 102, 201, 202, 385 (lower div) |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 113 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 180 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HIST 127 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIST 126, 127 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HIST 100 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 6 | HIST 100, HIST Elective |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
48%
Come back for a second year
72%
Typical earnings
$53,355
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Western Colorado University$66,322
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 11 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Western Colorado University. The Western Colorado University logo is a trademark of the college.