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CU Boulder Colorado State DU CMU Metropolitan State College of Denver UCCS GVSU Oakland WSU Michigan State ISU Regis| University of Colorado Denver | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Denver | WMU | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,409 | 16,693 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #391 | #631 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,096 | $15,198 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,288 | $18,998 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,920 | $11,713 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,303 | $20,183 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,079 | $8,217 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 91% |
Admission |
CU Denver | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,569 | 20,100 | ||
| Admitted | 11,336 | 17,020 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.8% | 84.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.4% | 14.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1220 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
CU Denver | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $275 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
CU Denver | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 85% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 21% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | WMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Colorado Denver is larger than than WMU based on total student enrollment (23,409 students vs. 16,693 students)
CU Denver vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 67.1% more expensive to attend than CU Denver for in-state tuition ($15,198.00 vs. $9,096.00)
- Out of state tuition is 43.6% higher at CU Denver than Western Michigan University ($27,288.00 vs. $18,998.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Denver than WMU ($15,303 vs. $20,183)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 27.4% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($11,713 vs. $14,920)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Michigan University than University of Colorado Denver (91% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Michigan University students is 1.7% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($8,217 vs. $8,079)
CU Denver vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Denver (1055) is 25 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming CU Denver students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CU Denver (3.46)
- WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than CU Denver (77.8%)
CU Denver vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver or WMU? 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 WMU and CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at WMU is higher than University of Colorado Denver (56% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $19,300 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $48,900)
- University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $5,443 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($21,190 vs. $26,633)
- CU Denver graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($219 vs. $275)
- More CU Denver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/