Western Colorado University vs. State University of New York at New Paltz

Deciding between Western Colorado University and State University of New York at New Paltz? 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.

Western Colorado University
State University of New York at New Paltz

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO
  • State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY
  • Setting
  • Western Colorado University Remote Town
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Colorado University 3,568
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 7,898
  • Type
  • Western Colorado University Public 4 Year
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Western Colorado University #1026
  • State University of New York at New Paltz #288
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Western Colorado University -
  • State University of New York at New Paltz -
  • Status
  • Western Colorado University Non-profit
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Western Colorado University
  • State University of New York at New Paltz

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Western Colorado University $11,318
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $8,572
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Western Colorado University $24,434
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,822
  • Room & Board
  • Western Colorado University $10,760
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $16,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Western Colorado University $17,711
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,051
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Western Colorado University $8,425
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $10,087
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Western Colorado University 93%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 71%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Western Colorado University Calculate
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Calculate
  • Applied
  • Western Colorado University 3,119
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17,232
  • Admitted
  • Western Colorado University 3,110
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10,616
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Western Colorado University 99.7%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 61.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Western Colorado University 11.5%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Colorado University 1260
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Colorado University 24
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Western Colorado University 3.42
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Western Colorado University B+
  • State University of New York at New Paltz A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Western Colorado University Challenging
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Western Colorado University
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Low
  • ACT Range
  • Western Colorado University 22/26
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29
  • SAT Range
  • Western Colorado University 1163/1353
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Western Colorado University Test optional
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Western Colorado University
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Western Colorado University 17:1
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Western Colorado University
    • Business (28%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Western Colorado University 39%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Western Colorado University $40,800
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $47,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Western Colorado University 61%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Western Colorado University $21,500
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Western Colorado University $222
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Western Colorado University 47%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 36%
  • % Women
  • Western Colorado University 53%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Western Colorado University Low
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Medium
  • HBCU
  • Western Colorado University No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • % White
  • Western Colorado University 75%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 63%
  • % Asian
  • Western Colorado University 1%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • % Black
  • Western Colorado University 3%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Western Colorado University 10%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17%
  • % Native American
  • Western Colorado University 1%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Western Colorado University 0%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Western Colorado University 4%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • % International
  • Western Colorado University 0%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Western Colorado University 6%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Western Colorado University 62%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Western Colorado University 38%
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Western Colorado University Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Western Colorado University No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Meal Plan
  • Western Colorado University Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Western Colorado University No
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Western Colorado University Yes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Learn More
  • Western Colorado University Details
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO with State University of New York at New Paltz in New Paltz, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at New Paltz is larger than Western Colorado University based on total student enrollment (7,898 students vs. 3,568 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, CO (Remote Town setting); State University of New York at New Paltz is in New Paltz, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • Western Colorado University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at New Paltz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Colorado University 17:1; State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1.

Western Colorado University vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Colorado University or State University of New York at New Paltz? 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 State University of New York at New Paltz ($17,711 vs. $18,051).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Colorado University are 35.5% lower than at State University of New York at New Paltz ($10,760 vs. $16,684).
  • Western Colorado University is 32% more expensive for in-state tuition than State University of New York at New Paltz (about $2,746 more per year; $11,318.00 vs. $8,572.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.8% higher at Western Colorado University than at State University of New York at New Paltz (about $5,612 more per year; $24,434.00 vs. $18,822.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Colorado University than at State University of New York at New Paltz (93% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by State University of New York at New Paltz students is 19.7% larger than aid received by Western Colorado University students ($10,087 vs. $8,425).

Western Colorado University vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Colorado University or State University of New York at New Paltz? 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 State University of New York at New Paltz and Western Colorado University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Colorado University (1260) is the same as at State University of New York at New Paltz (1260).
  • Incoming State University of New York at New Paltz students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at Western Colorado University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Colorado University 1163/1353; State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Colorado University 22/26; State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Western Colorado University - Test optional; State University of New York at New Paltz - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman State University of New York at New Paltz students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Western Colorado University (3.42).
  • Western Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than State University of New York at New Paltz (61.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at Western Colorado University vs. 10.7% at State University of New York at New Paltz.

Western Colorado University vs. State University of New York at New Paltz Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Western Colorado University and State University of New York at New Paltz? 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).

  • State University of New York at New Paltz's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Western Colorado University's (39%).
  • Graduates from State University of New York at New Paltz earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Western Colorado University graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Western Colorado University graduates ($19,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Colorado University graduates ($196 vs. $222).
  • More State University of New York at New Paltz graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Colorado University students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.