Western Colorado University
#2 Best Biology Colleges in ColoradoBottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 17.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.2 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Biology Colleges in Colorado.
Every $1 spent returns $17.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,065,275.
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What The Data Says
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Every $1 invested returns $17.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Western Colorado University Matters
Western Colorado University is a public university in Gunnison, CO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,586
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose Western Colorado University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 100% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1163–1353. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,425 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,833 ten years after enrolling — 15% above the typical college, against $20,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 88% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.64 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Western Colorado University stands out with an acceptance rate of 100%. Every student who applies gets a chance to attend, making it an accessible option for those seeking higher education in the Colorado Rockies.
Looking at long-term outcomes, graduates from Western Colorado University earn a median salary of $46,833 a decade after enrolling. While the school does not have specific mobility data, the graduation rate sits at 51%, suggesting that students who persist can find financial stability in their careers.
The cost to attend is $16,425 net. With a median debt of $20,250, students can expect a manageable loan burden upon graduation. This school is well-suited for students interested in programs like Biology, Business, Psychology, and Social Sciences, where hands-on learning and community engagement are emphasized.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Western Colorado University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Western Colorado University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Western Colorado University, located in Gunnison, Colorado, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 100% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,230. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 51%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Western Colorado University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Western Colorado University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $24,434 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $16,425 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,490 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,250.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Western Colorado University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Western Colorado University earn a median of $46,833, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Western Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Western Colorado University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Western Colorado University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,425/year ($65,700 total). Graduates earn $46,833 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,130,975 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,065,275 (17.2× your investment). The median debt is $20,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Western Colorado University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Western Colorado University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.78%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Western Colorado University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Western Colorado University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Western Colorado University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Western Colorado University, located in Gunnison, Colorado, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 100% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,230. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Western Colorado University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Western Colorado University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $24,434 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $16,425 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,490 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,250.
Is Western Colorado University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Western Colorado University earn a median of $46,833, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Western Colorado University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Western Colorado University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.78%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Western Colorado University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Western Colorado University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.64 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Western Colorado University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Western Colorado University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Western Colorado University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.64 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note