Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
CU Boulder CU Denver MSU OSU UCCS UO DU Colorado School of Mines FLC University of Northern Colorado Nebraska Colorado Mesa| Colorado State University Fort Collins | Western State Colorado University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
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 |
|
|
||
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/