Colorado State vs. Western State Colorado University

Should I go to Colorado State University Fort Collins or Western State Colorado University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado State 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 State University Fort Collins vs. Western State Colorado University comparison
Colorado State University Fort Collins Western State Colorado University College 3 College 4
Colorado State University Fort Collins Western State Colorado University
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Overview

Colorado State Western State Colorado University
Location Fort Collins, CO Gunnison, CO
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 33,403 3,548
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #359 #709
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colostate.edu western.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado State Western State Colorado University
Tuition (In State) $10,218 $6,936
Tuition (Out of State) $30,078 $18,960
Room & Board $13,728 $10,286
Avg Net Price $16,926 $16,672
Avg Grant Aid $10,727 $9,189
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 91%

Admission

Colorado State Western State Colorado University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,122 3,116
Admitted 30,066 2,862
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 91.8%
Enrolled % 18.5% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 21/29
SAT Range 1080/1290 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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Colorado State Western State Colorado University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Colorado State Western State Colorado University
Graduation Rate 64% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,800 $40,800
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,004 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $217 $222

Diversity

Colorado State Western State Colorado University
% Men 45% 49%
% Women 55% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 75%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 10%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

Colorado State Western State Colorado University
% In-State 59% 72%
% Out-of-State 40% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 3,548 students)

Colorado State vs. Western State Colorado University Cost Comparison

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

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is 47.3% more expensive to attend than Western State Colorado University for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $6,936.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.6% higher at Colorado State than Western State Colorado University ($30,078.00 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 State ($16,672 vs. $16,926)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western State Colorado University are 33.5% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($10,286 vs. $13,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western State Colorado University than Colorado State University Fort Collins (91% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 16.7% larger than aid received Western State Colorado University ($10,727 vs. $9,189)

Colorado State vs. Western State Colorado University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State 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 State .

  • The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 181 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
  • Incoming Colorado State students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Western State Colorado University (3.42)
  • Western State Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Colorado State (90.8%)

Colorado State vs. Western State Colorado University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado State 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 State.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than Western State Colorado University (64% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn on average $11,000 more per year than Western State Colorado University graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $40,800)
  • Colorado State University Fort Collins students graduate with a $496 lower median federal student loan debt than Western State Colorado University graduates. ($21,004 vs. $21,500)
  • Colorado State graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Western State Colorado University graduates. ($217 vs. $222)
  • More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western State Colorado University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

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