University of Northern Colorado vs. Western Colorado University

Deciding between University of Northern Colorado and Western Colorado University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Northern Colorado
Western Colorado University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
  • Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO
  • Setting
  • University of Northern Colorado Small City
  • Western Colorado University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Northern Colorado 8,869
  • Western Colorado University 3,568
  • Type
  • University of Northern Colorado Public 4 Year
  • Western Colorado University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Northern Colorado #680
  • Western Colorado University #1026
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Northern Colorado -
  • Western Colorado University -
  • Status
  • University of Northern Colorado Non-profit
  • Western Colorado University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • Western Colorado University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Northern Colorado $12,416
  • Western Colorado University $11,318
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Northern Colorado $27,266
  • Western Colorado University $24,434
  • Room & Board
  • University of Northern Colorado $16,154
  • Western Colorado University $10,760
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Northern Colorado $19,376
  • Western Colorado University $17,711
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Northern Colorado $9,992
  • Western Colorado University $8,425
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Northern Colorado 95%
  • Western Colorado University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Northern Colorado Calculate
  • Western Colorado University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Northern Colorado 11,127
  • Western Colorado University 3,119
  • Admitted
  • University of Northern Colorado 9,553
  • Western Colorado University 3,110
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Northern Colorado 85.9%
  • Western Colorado University 99.7%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Northern Colorado 13%
  • Western Colorado University 11.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Northern Colorado 1070
  • Western Colorado University 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Northern Colorado 23
  • Western Colorado University 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Northern Colorado 3.53
  • Western Colorado University 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Northern Colorado A-
  • Western Colorado University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Northern Colorado Easy
  • Western Colorado University Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • Western Colorado University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Northern Colorado 21/26
  • Western Colorado University 22/26
  • SAT Range
  • University of Northern Colorado 950/1190
  • Western Colorado University 1163/1353
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Northern Colorado Test optional
  • Western Colorado University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027
  • Western Colorado University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Northern Colorado 14:1
  • Western Colorado University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Northern Colorado
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Western Colorado University
    • Business (28%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Northern Colorado 46%
  • Western Colorado University 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Northern Colorado $44,600
  • Western Colorado University $40,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Northern Colorado 62%
  • Western Colorado University 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Northern Colorado $21,970
  • Western Colorado University $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Northern Colorado $227
  • Western Colorado University $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Northern Colorado 32%
  • Western Colorado University 47%
  • % Women
  • University of Northern Colorado 68%
  • Western Colorado University 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Northern Colorado Medium
  • Western Colorado University Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Northern Colorado No
  • Western Colorado University No
  • % White
  • University of Northern Colorado 56%
  • Western Colorado University 75%
  • % Asian
  • University of Northern Colorado 2%
  • Western Colorado University 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • Western Colorado University 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Northern Colorado 18%
  • Western Colorado University 10%
  • % Native American
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • Western Colorado University 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • Western Colorado University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • Western Colorado University 4%
  • % International
  • University of Northern Colorado 1%
  • Western Colorado University 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Northern Colorado 15%
  • Western Colorado University 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Northern Colorado 86%
  • Western Colorado University 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Northern Colorado 12%
  • Western Colorado University 38%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO with Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Northern Colorado is larger than Western Colorado University based on total student enrollment (8,869 students vs. 3,568 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, CO (Small City setting); Western Colorado University is in Gunnison, CO (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Northern Colorado is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Colorado University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Northern Colorado 14:1; Western Colorado University 17:1.

University of Northern Colorado vs. Western Colorado University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Northern Colorado or Western Colorado University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Colorado University than University of Northern Colorado ($17,711 vs. $19,376).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Colorado University are 33.4% lower than at University of Northern Colorado ($10,760 vs. $16,154).
  • University of Northern Colorado is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Colorado University (about $1,098 more per year; $12,416.00 vs. $11,318.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.6% higher at University of Northern Colorado than at Western Colorado University (about $2,832 more per year; $27,266.00 vs. $24,434.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Northern Colorado than at Western Colorado University (95% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Northern Colorado students is 18.6% larger than aid received by Western Colorado University students ($9,992 vs. $8,425).

University of Northern Colorado vs. Western Colorado University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Northern Colorado or Western Colorado University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Western Colorado University and University of Northern Colorado.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Colorado University (1260) is 190 points higher than at University of Northern Colorado (1070).
  • Incoming Western Colorado University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at University of Northern Colorado).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Colorado 950/1190; Western Colorado University 1163/1353.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Colorado 21/26; Western Colorado University 22/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Northern Colorado - Test optional; Western Colorado University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Northern Colorado students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Western Colorado University (3.42).
  • Western Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than University of Northern Colorado (85.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at University of Northern Colorado vs. 11.5% at Western Colorado University.

University of Northern Colorado vs. Western Colorado University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Northern Colorado and Western Colorado University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Northern Colorado's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Western Colorado University's (39%).
  • Graduates from University of Northern Colorado earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Western Colorado University graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,600 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Colorado University graduates have a $470 lower median loan debt than University of Northern Colorado graduates ($21,500 vs. $21,970).
  • Among borrowers, Western Colorado University graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Northern Colorado graduates ($222 vs. $227).
  • More University of Northern Colorado graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Colorado University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.