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IPEDS ID: 128391
OPE ID: 00137200
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Western State Colorado University
600 N Adams, Gunnison, Colorado 81231
General information:  (970) 943-0120
Website:  www.western.edu
Type:  4-year, Public
Awards offered:  Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Campus setting:  Town: Remote
Campus housing:  Yes
Student population:  2,242 (2,039 undergraduate)
Student-to-faculty ratio:  17 to 1
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open-close General Information
Admissionsadmissions.western.edu/
Apply Onlineadmissions.western.edu/apply
Financial Aidwww.western.edu/student-life/finaid/
Net Price Calculatoradmissions.western.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator.html
Mission Statement
  Western State Colorado University promotes intellectual maturity and personal growth in its students and graduates citizens prepared to assume constructive roles in local, national, and global communities. Western helps its students to develop the skills and commitments needed to continue learning for the rest of their lives and strives to unifying academic domains which have traditionally existed separately: the sciences, the liberal arts, and professional programs. The University provides students with a solid foundation of skills in written and spoken communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Programs encourage a breadth and depth of knowledge, which will serve as a foundation for a professional career or graduate study, and an appreciation of values appropriate to a liberally educated individual.
Carnegie Classification
Baccalaureate Colleges--Arts & Sciences
Religious Affiliation
Not applicable
Federal Aid
Eligible students may receive Pell Grants and other federal aid (e.g. Direct Loans).
Undergraduate students enrolled who are formally registered with office of disability services
6%
Special Learning Opportunities
Teacher certification
Distance education opportunities - undergraduate level
Distance education opportunities - graduate level
Study abroad
Student Services
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling service
Employment services for students
On-campus day care for students' children
Credit Accepted
Dual credit
Advanced placement (AP) credits
Faculty and graduate assistants by primary function, Fall 2011Full timePart time
Total faculty11727
Instructional11727
Research and public service00
Total graduate assistants-0
Instructional-0
Research and public service-0
open-close Tuition, Fees, and Estimated Student Expenses
Estimated Expenses for Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
  • Beginning students are those who are entering postsecondary education for the first time.
Estimated expenses for academic year2009-20102010-20112011-20122012-2013% change 2011-2012 to 2012-2013
Tuition and fees
In-state$6,104$4,775$5,473$6,44917.8%
Out-of-state$13,260$14,241$15,087$16,3188.2%
Books and supplies$1,500$1,200$1,400$1,4000.0%
Living arrangement
On Campus
Room and board$8,324$8,162$8,472$9,0687.0%
Other$2,797$2,797$2,592$2,6100.7%
Off Campus
Room and board$8,478$8,478$8,712$8,9012.2%
Other$2,565$2,565$2,592$2,6100.7%
Off Campus with Family
Other$2,421$2,421$2,592$2,6100.7%
Total Expenses2009-20102010-20112011-20122012-2013% change 2011-2012 to 2012-2013
In-state
On Campus$18,725$16,934$17,937$19,5278.9%
Off Campus$18,647$17,018$18,177$19,3606.5%
Off Campus with Family$10,025$8,396$9,465$10,45910.5%
Out-of-state
On Campus$25,881$26,400$27,551$29,3966.7%
Off Campus$25,803$26,484$27,791$29,2295.2%
Off Campus with Family$17,181$17,862$19,079$20,3286.5%
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This calculator uses estimated student expenses data to estimate the total tuition and fees charged over the duration of a typical 4-year program at this school.
1. Select starting academic year
2. Select tuition inflation rate
 
 
% (0-100 allowed)
  • The output is only an estimate and not a guarantee of the actual amount the student may be charged; it is not binding on the Secretary, the institution of higher education, or the State; and it may change, subject to the availability of financial assistance, State appropriations, and other factors. The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for, and receive, an actual financial aid award that includes federal grant, loan, or work-study assistance.
  • The estimated price does not include room and board, books and supplies, &c. (where applicable) and is based on previous years' tuition and fees data. Tuition and fees may vary by program. Please contact this institution for detailed price information.
  • Estimated yearly tuition and fees may not sum to totals because of rounding.
Estimate the total tuition and fee costs over the duration of a typical program.
 Multiyear Tuition Calculator
Average graduate student tuition and fees for academic year2012-2013
Tuition$15,000
Fees$0
Alternative Tuition Plans
Type of PlanOffered
Tuition guarantee plan
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment planX
Other alternative tuition plan
open-close Financial Aid
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid, 2010-2011
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
  • Beginning students are those who are entering postsecondary education for the first time.
Type of AidNumber receiving aidPercent receiving aidTotal amount of aid receivedAverage amount of aid received
Any student financial aid142889%————
Grant or scholarship aid39582%$1,628,773$4,123
Federal grants14731%$607,598$4,133
Pell grants14630%$516,037$3,535
Other federal grants10121%$91,561$907
State/local government grant or scholarships13228%$156,183$1,183
Institutional grants or scholarships35173%$864,992$2,464
Student loan aid28058%$1,445,532$5,163
Federal student loans27257%$1,379,883$5,073
Other student loans82%$65,649$8,206
  • 1 Includes students receiving Federal work study aid and aid from other sources not listed above.
All Undergraduate Students
Type of AidNumber receiving aidPercent receiving aidTotal amount of aid receivedAverage amount of aid received
Grant or scholarship aid11,34461%$7,402,114$5,508
Pell grants61228%$2,335,719$3,817
Federal student loans1,14351%$10,209,617$8,932
  • 1 Grant or scholarship aid includes aid received, from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.

  • For more information on Student Financial Assistance Programs or to apply for financial aid via the web, visit Federal Student Aid.
open-close Net Price
Average Net Price for Full-Time Beginning Students
Full-time beginning undergraduate students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.
2008-20092009-20102010-2011
Average net price$14,303$13,958$12,998
Full-time beginning undergraduate students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded Title IV aid by income.
Average net price by Income2008-20092009-20102010-2011
$0 – $30,000$9,520$9,568$9,304
$30,001 – $48,000$11,576$11,338$10,854
$48,001 – $75,000$15,254$14,847$13,900
$75,001 – $110,000$17,314$17,366$15,814
$110,001 and more$17,841$17,350$15,757
  • Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state/local government, or institutional grant or scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies, and the weighted average for room and board and other expenses.
  • Beginning students are those who are entering postsecondary education for the first time.
  • Title IV aid to students includes grant aid, work study aid, and loan aid. These include: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan. For those Title IV recipients, net price is reported by income category and includes students who received federal aid even if none of that aid was provided in the form of grants. While Title IV status defines the cohort of student for which the data are reported, the definition of net price remains the same – total cost of attendance minus grant aid.
Net Price Calculator
An institution’s net price calculator allows current and prospective students, families, and other consumers to estimate the net price of attending that institution for a particular student.
Visit this institution's net price calculator
open-close Enrollment
Fall 2011
Total enrollment2,242
Undergraduate enrollment2,039
Undergraduate transfer-in enrollment147
Graduate enrollment203
Undergraduate Attendance StatusUndergraduate Student Gender
Undergraduate Attendance Status: Full-time: 91% Part-time: 9%Undergraduate Student Gender: Male: 61% Female: 39%
Undergraduate Race/ethnicity
Undergraduate Race/ethnicity: American Indian or Alaska Native: 0% Asian: 0% Black or African American: 2% Hispanic/Latino: 6% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 1% White: 73% Two or more races: 1% Race/ethnicity unknown: 16% Non-resident alien: 0%
Undergraduate Student AgeUndergraduate Student Residence
Undergraduate Student Age: 24 and under: 88% 25 and over: 12% Age unknown: 0%Undergraduate Student Residence: In-state: 71% Out-of-state: 28% Foreign countries: 1% Unknown: 0%
  • Residence data are reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates, Fall 2010.
Graduate Attendance Status
Graduate Attendance Status: Full-time: 59% Part-time: 41%
open-close Admissions
Undergraduate application fee (2012-2013): $30
Undergraduate Admissions Fall 2012
TotalMaleFemale
Number of applicants1,499818681
Percent admitted96%95%96%
Percent admitted who enrolled31%35%27%
Admissions ConsiderationsRequiredRecommended
Secondary school GPAX
Secondary school rankX
Secondary school recordX
Completion of college-preparatory programX
RecommendationsX
Admission test scores (SAT/ACT)X
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language)X
Test Scores: Fall 2012 (enrolled first-time students)
Students submitting scoresNumberPercent
SAT11425%
ACT38986%
Test Scores25th Percentile*75th Percentile**
NOTES:
*  25% of students scored at or below
** 25% of students scored above
  • Data apply to first-time degree/certificate-seeking students.
  • Institutions are asked to report test scores only if they are required for admission.
SAT Critical Reading460560
SAT Math460550
ACT Composite1924
ACT English1824
ACT Math1824
open-close Retention and Graduation Rates
First-to-Second Year Retention Rates

Retention rates measure the percentage of first-time students who are seeking bachelor's degrees who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall.

Retention Rates for First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
Student retention: Full-time students: 63% Part-time students: 14%
Percentage of Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2010 and Returned in Fall 2011
Overall Graduation Rate and Transfer-Out Rate

The overall graduation rate is also known as the "Student Right to Know" or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students to see if they complete a degree or other award such as a certificate within 150% of "normal time" for completing the program in which they are enrolled.

Some institutions also report a transfer-out rate, which is the percentage of the full-time, first-time students who transferred to another institution.

Note that not all students at the institution are tracked for these rates. Students who have already attended another postsecondary institution, or who began their studies on a part-time basis, are not tracked for this rate. At this institution, 73 percent of entering students were counted as "full-time, first-time" in 2011.

Overall Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates for Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2005
Overall graduation rate: Overall graduation rate: 39% Transfer-out rate: 23%
Percentage of Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated or Transferred Out Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rates

Bachelor’s degree graduation rates measure the percentage of entering students beginning their studies full-time and are planning to get a bachelor’s degree and who complete their degree program within a specified amount of time.

Graduation Rates for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor's degree rate: 4-year: 20% 6-year: 39% 8-year: 41%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Graduated in the Specified Amount of Time
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: Male: 34% Female: 48%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2005 and Received a Degree or Award Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: American Indian or Alaska Native: 0% Asian: 50% Black or African American: 31% Hispanic/Latino: 50% White: 38% Race/ethnicity unknown: 40%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2005 and Received a Degree or Award Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
open-close Programs/Majors
Completions (Number of awards conferred) 2011-2012
Completions are the number of awards conferred by program and award level.
sort byProgramBachelorMasterPostgraduate
Certificate
  • Data shown are for first majors.
  • (-) Program is not offered at this award level.
  • d identifies programs and award levels that are offered as a distance education program. For program category totals, d is shown if one or more programs in the category are offered as a distance education program.
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
Biology/Biological Sciences, General26--
Category total26--
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Accounting12--
Business/Commerce, General77--
Management Information Systems, General7--
Category total96--
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Speech Communication and Rhetoric15--
Category total15--
Education
Education, General-24d-
Category total-24d-
English Language and Literature/Letters
Creative Writing--0
English Language and Literature, General18--
Category total18-0
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Spanish Language and Literature3--
Category total3--
History
History, General13--
Category total13--
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies10--
Category total10--
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics, General8--
Category total8--
Natural Resources and Conservation
Environmental Science20--
Category total20--
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Kinesiology and Exercise Science39--
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies26--
Category total65--
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, General2--
Geology/Earth Science, General8--
Category total10--
Psychology
Psychology, General23--
Category total23--
Social Sciences
Anthropology7--
Economics, General5--
Political Science and Government, General9--
Sociology17--
Category total38--
Visual and Performing Arts
Fine/Studio Arts, General26--
Music, General6--
Category total32--
Grand total377240
open-close Varsity Athletic Teams
2011-2012 Varsity Athletes
NCAA Division II (with football) MenWomen
All Track Combined5542
Basketball1613
Football121–
Volleyball–15
Wrestling40–
open-close Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
AgencyPeriods of AccreditationStatus
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission (!)1/1/1915 -  Accredited
Specialized Accreditation
Agency / ProgramPeriods of AccreditationStatus
National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation, Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation
Music (MUS) - Institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and/or non-degree-granting programs(!)9/1/1973 -  Accredited
  • (!) Estimated date
open-close Campus Security
2011 Crime Statistics
Arrests - On-Campus200920102011
Illegal weapons possession000
Drug law violations403727
Liquor law violations111121
Arrests - On-Campus Residence Halls !200920102011
Illegal weapons possession000
Drug law violations322726
Liquor law violations1717
Criminal Offenses - On-Campus200920102011
Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter000
Negligent manslaughter000
Sex offenses - Forcible101
Sex offenses - Non-forcible (incest and statutory rape only)000
Robbery001
Aggravated assault110
Burglary1222
Motor vehicle theft100
Arson000
Criminal Offenses - On-Campus Residence Halls !200920102011
Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter000
Negligent manslaughter000
Sex offenses - Forcible101
Sex offenses - Non-forcible (incest and statutory rape only)000
Robbery000
Aggravated assault100
Burglary922
Motor vehicle theft000
Arson000
  • (!) Residence Halls are a subset of On-Campus statistics
  • The crime data reported by the institutions have not been subjected to independent verification by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, the Department cannot vouch for the accuracy of the data reported here.
  • These data do not include incidents that: (a) took place off campus on public property immediately adjacent to and accessible from the Campus; (b) took place on a noncampus building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution; or (c) incidents at buildings/property owned or controlled by an institution but is not contiguous to the institution. For further information, see http://ope.ed.gov/security.
open-close Cohort Default Rates
Three-year Official Cohort Default Rates
Fiscal Year2009
Default rate11.8%
Number in default58
Number in repayment490
Aid Programs
  • Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)
  • Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan)
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National Center for Education Statistics - http://nces.ed.gov
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Education
Institute of Education Sciences
National Center for Education Statistics
International Year of Statistics 2013 (Statistics2013)
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