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Adventure
Starts Here

Experience life as a Mountaineer!

Check out our episode of The College Tour and get a glimpse into what it’s like as a Western Colorado University student.

The College Tour

Native American Heritage Month

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with us from November 1-30 as we honor the cultures, traditions, and histories of Indigenous peoples. Discover events, resources, and stories that highlight their contributions and promote understanding and respect within our community.

Native American Heritage Month Resources

Apply Now for Spring '25

Ready to start your academic adventure at Western? The spring and fall 2025 applications are open, and with no application fees! Click below to learn about applying today.

Admissions Requirements

Visit Campus

There's no better way to learn if Western is the right university for you than visiting our campus in the heart of the Rockies. Click below to learn about our daily campus tours and immersive, full-day visit experiences!

Visit Western

Get Your Questions Answered

Ready to discover more about Western? Reach out to the university admissions team to get all your questions answered. Request information today to get started.

Request Information

The College Tour

Mountain Sports

Living in the Gunnison Valley

Mountaineer Athletics

EPIC Mentorship Student Support Services

Rady Partnership Program

Student Living Residence Life

Experiential Learning & Sustainability

Recreation & Outdoor Education

News & Research

Southwestern Forests Burn Only a Fraction as Often as They Once Did. But When They Do, the Consequences are Severe Southwestern Forests Burn Only a Fraction as Often as They Once Did. But When They Do, the Consequences are Severe

New Student-led Study to Look at Health of Black Canyon Bighorn Herd New Student-led Study to Look at Health of Black Canyon Bighorn Herd

Students Raise Awareness of Athletes’ Mental Health with Eksperience App Students Raise Awareness of Athletes’ Mental Health with Eksperience App

Shaping the Future of Physical Education and Sport: Kanae Haneishi’s Mission of Inclusion and Wellness Shaping the Future of Physical Education and Sport: Kanae Haneishi’s Mission of Inclusion and Wellness

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

View All Events

Nov
05

Mountain Sports Ski Waxing Fundraiser Gunnison Dropoff

Nov
08

Symphonic Band Concert

Nov
08

A New Ski Movie from Matchstick Productions: Calm Beneath Castles

Nov
09

Football vs. Chadron State College

Nov
12

Ireland Abroad 2025 Information Session

Nov
12

Chamber Orchestra Concert - "Diversions"

Nov
14

School of Business Speaker Series - John Friesen, MBA

Nov
15

Volleyball vs. Metro State University

Nov
16

WCU vs. CMU Tailgate at Colorado Mesa University

Nov
16

Volleyball vs. Colorado School of Mines

View All Events

Your Future Starts Here


Areas of Study


Average Class Size


Faculty with the Highest Degree in Their Field


Graduate Employment Rate*

Western campus

The difference is the outcome.

At Western, our students are given the professional guidance and support necessary to develop real-world skills that lead to successful careers. Our highly personalized programs center around developing professionals ready to meet the demands of the modern workplace.

Through our distinct combination of academic merit, hands-on research opportunities and an inclusive student experience, we deliver an education that better meets what the market demands.

Explore Western

Inclusive Community

Our students and educators collectively believe that worldly views and different perspectives help provide a better education.

Western Colorado University

Where academic rigor meets awe-inspiring adventure.

Situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Western Colorado University offers a vast outdoor research laboratory with unparalleled opportunities for students to learn and gain hands-on experience. Head out with your professor to track lynx, take part in an archaeological dig, join the robotics team to create your own machine or explore the brand-new labs in the Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering. Take a closer look and you’ll see what makes Western such a special place.

Explore Our Programs

Research in our backyard

Nearly 80 percent of Gunnison County’s 3,239 square miles is federally owned land, making it an ideal environment for fieldwork.

We create a solid foundation for your future success.

At Western, we provide the knowledge and tools you need to make an impact in any field you choose. We’ve intentionally designed our curricula around practical experience to give you the industry knowledge you’ll need to excel. Explore our programs and learning opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else in higher education.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Programs

At Western, we believe a relevant education goes beyond academic excellence and critical thinking. From our accomplished faculty members—to our state-of-the-art facilities, we’ll give you the real-world skills and knowledge you need for a successful and rewarding career.

Two students conduct research in a wildlife ecology lab focused on forest fires.

School of Graduate Studies

Western Colorado University’s School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is comprised of cutting-edge graduate programs committed to accelerating your career. Upon joining our graduate community, you will become part of an expansive network of graduate professionals who are eager to learn, interact and explore together.

Accelerated Degree Programs

Accelerated Degree Programs

Western Colorado University offers a variety of Accelerated Degree programs that allow you to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years. Our Accelerated Degree programs are designed to jump start your career, while saving you time and money.

Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering

Our engineering programs combine academic rigor with practical application in our new, cutting-edge facilities, classrooms, and labs. Work towards a University of Colorado Boulder engineering degree, while enjoying the personal attention, small class sizes, and spectacular surroundings of Western Colorado University.

Four prospective students give a presentation during the Borick Scholars Weekend event.

School of Business

We are committed to providing small class sizes led by passionate professors, extensive career preparation resources, and opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations. Whether you’re drawn to business for its versatility, have a specific career path in mind, or even want to start your own venture, the Western Colorado School of Business has a pathway right for you.

School of Environment and sustainability

Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

We empower students to lead community shifts toward ecologically resilient, economically sustainable, and socially just energy, food, water, and land-use systems. With a commitment to delivering hands-on learning experiences, our students have explored environmental and sustainability studies by monitoring forests on snowshoes, managing our campus organic farm, traveling around the globe to collaborate with different communities, and much more.

A student types on a laptop.

Adult Degree Completion

Earning a college degree is a goal for millions of Americans, but sometimes life gets in the way. Western Colorado University’s Adult Degree Completion program serves to aid professionals with some college experience in finishing their credit requirements and earning a bachelor’s degree in a flexible, accessible and completely online environment. Let’s finish what you started!

*New for Fall 2024: ADC will offer the Professional Certificates in Graphic Design and Sport Management.

 

Discover your story at Western.

The unique outcomes of the education at Western become the stories we tell. Our students are more than successful, they are personally fulfilled and recognized as leaders within their communities and industries.