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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW FLC University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU Colorado Mesa UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke| Western State Colorado University | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Western State Colorado University | WCU | ||
| Location | Gunnison, CO | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 3,548 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #709 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | western.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Western State Colorado University | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,936 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $18,960 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,286 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,672 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,189 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 99% |
Admission |
Western State Colorado University | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,116 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 2,862 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.8% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.3% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/29 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1270 | 1020/1240 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Western State Colorado University | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Western State Colorado University | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 39% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,800 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $227 |
Diversity |
Western State Colorado University | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 75% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 1% |
Students |
Western State Colorado University | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 72% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 27% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Western State Colorado University | WCU | ||
| 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
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 3,548 students)
Western State Colorado University vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Western State Colorado University or WCU?
- Western State Colorado University is 593.6% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($6,936.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 279.2% higher at Western State Colorado University than Western Carolina University ($18,960.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Western State Colorado University ($13,022 vs. $16,672)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western State Colorado University are 8.6% lower than costs at Western Carolina University ($10,286 vs. $11,173)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Western State Colorado University (99% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western State Colorado University students is 103% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($9,189 vs. $4,526)
Western State Colorado University vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Western State Colorado University or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Western State Colorado University .
- The average SAT score at Western Carolina University (1032) is 68 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
- Incoming WCU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Western State Colorado University (3.42)
- Western State Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than WCU (84.8%)
Western State Colorado University vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Western State Colorado University 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 Western State Colorado University.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Western State Colorado University (50% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from Western State Colorado University earn on average $1,700 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $39,100)
- Western State Colorado University students graduate with a $510 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,010)
- Western State Colorado University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($222 vs. $227)
- More Western State Colorado University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/