CU Denver vs. WCU

Should I go to University of Colorado Denver or West Chester University of Pennsylvania? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CU Denver or WCU 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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University of Colorado Denver vs. West Chester University of Pennsylvania comparison
University of Colorado Denver West Chester University of Pennsylvania College 3 College 4
University of Colorado Denver West Chester University of Pennsylvania
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Overview

 CU Denver WCU
Location Denver, CO West Chester, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 23,744 17,275
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #387 #496
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucdenver.edu wcupa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CU Denver WCU
Tuition (In State) $8,736 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $25,992 $19,290
Room & Board $14,230 $14,228
Avg Net Price $16,079 $22,973
Avg Grant Aid $9,384 $5,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 64%

Admission

 CU Denver WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,631 14,778
Admitted 11,658 12,982
Acceptance Rate 74.6% 87.8%
Enrolled % 14.6% 23.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.43
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 23/30
SAT Range 1030/1260 1080/1260
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 CU Denver WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

Outcomes

 CU Denver WCU
Graduation Rate 40% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,200 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,190 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $219 $242

Diversity

 CU Denver WCU
% Men 40% 39%
% Women 60% 61%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 51% 78%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 19% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 8% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 CU Denver WCU
% In-State 82% 87%
% Out-of-State 15% 12%

Campus

 CU Denver WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Denver is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (23,744 students vs. 17,275 students)

CU Denver vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or WCU?

  • University of Colorado Denver is 13.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($8,736.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.7% higher at CU Denver than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($25,992.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Denver than WCU ($16,079 vs. $22,973)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 0% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($14,228 vs. $14,230)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Colorado Denver than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (93% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Denver students is 72.4% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($9,384 vs. $5,443)

CU Denver vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or CU Denver .

  • The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 17 points higher than at CU Denver (1055)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CU Denver (23)
  • Accepted freshman CU Denver students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at WCU (3.43)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than CU Denver (74.6%)

CU Denver vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Denver or WCU? 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 WCU and CU Denver.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than University of Colorado Denver (68% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $19,200 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $49,000)
  • University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $2,310 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($21,190 vs. $23,500)
  • CU Denver graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($219 vs. $242)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Denver students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 61%)

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