Colorado School of Mines vs. Western State Colorado University

Should I go to Colorado School of Mines or Western State Colorado University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado School of Mines or Western State Colorado University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colorado School of Mines vs. Western State Colorado University comparison
Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University College 3 College 4
Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
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Overview

Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
Location Golden, CO Gunnison, CO
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 7,403 3,548
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #152 #709
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mines.edu western.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
Tuition (In State) $17,520 $6,936
Tuition (Out of State) $39,600 $18,960
Room & Board $16,110 $10,286
Avg Net Price $29,425 $16,672
Avg Grant Aid $10,614 $9,189
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 91%

Admission

Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,886 3,116
Admitted 6,314 2,862
Acceptance Rate 58% 91.8%
Enrolled % 23.9% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/33 21/29
SAT Range 1330/1488 1010/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (89%)
  • Mathematics (7%)
  • Social Sciences (2%)
  • Physical Sciences (1%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
Graduation Rate 70% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $90,500 $40,800
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $222

Diversity

Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
% Men 69% 49%
% Women 31% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 75%
% Black 1% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 10%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 6% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 6%

Students

Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
% In-State 50% 72%
% Out-of-State 48% 27%

Campus

Colorado School of Mines Western State Colorado University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado School of Mines is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (7,403 students vs. 3,548 students)

Colorado School of Mines vs. Western State Colorado University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado School of Mines or Western State Colorado University?

  • Colorado School of Mines is 152.6% more expensive to attend than Western State Colorado University for in-state tuition ($17,520.00 vs. $6,936.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 108.9% higher at Colorado School of Mines than Western State Colorado University ($39,600.00 vs. $18,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western State Colorado University than Colorado School of Mines ($16,672 vs. $29,425)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western State Colorado University are 56.6% lower than costs at Colorado School of Mines ($10,286 vs. $16,110)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colorado School of Mines than Western State Colorado University (97% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado School of Mines students is 15.5% larger than aid received Western State Colorado University ($10,614 vs. $9,189)

Colorado School of Mines vs. Western State Colorado University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado School of Mines or Western State Colorado University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Western State Colorado University or Colorado School of Mines .

  • The average SAT score at Colorado School of Mines (1339) is 375 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
  • Incoming Colorado School of Mines students have a 10 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Colorado School of Mines students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Western State Colorado University (3.42)
  • Western State Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Colorado School of Mines (58%)

Colorado School of Mines vs. Western State Colorado University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado School of Mines or Western State Colorado University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Western State Colorado University and Colorado School of Mines.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado School of Mines is higher than Western State Colorado University (70% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Colorado School of Mines earn on average $49,700 more per year than Western State Colorado University graduates after ten years. ($90,500 vs. $40,800)
  • Western State Colorado University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado School of Mines graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Western State Colorado University graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado School of Mines graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More Colorado School of Mines graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western State Colorado University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/