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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

Registration and Advising for New and Returning Students

Need help changing your major? Curious about add/drop deadlines? Stop by the Registration and Advising Services (RAS) office to get answers to all of your academic advising questions!

Visit the RAS

Haven't Applied for College?

It's not too late to apply to Western for the Fall 2024 semester! Unlock your potential and embark on an academic journey where you'll combine adventure with education.

Learn About Applying to Western

Register for Mountain Sports

Mountain Sports registration is now open for the 2024-25 academic year. Click the link below to learn more about Western's Mountain Sports teams and register today!

Mountain Sports at Western

Highway 50 Travel Notice

US 50 is closed from mile point 136 to 137.8 Red Creek Road over Blue Mesa reservoir for emergency bridge work on Middle Bridge West of Gunnison. This is expected to be a long term closure event, so please plan travel accordingly. Alternate routes are strongly advised.

Learn about the closure

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.

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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

United States Senator Michael Bennet Visits Western Colorado University United States Senator Michael Bennet Visits Western Colorado University

Western Colorado University Invites Public to Grand Opening of Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex Western Colorado University Invites Public to Grand Opening of Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex

Western Joins Organization Dedicated to the Success of First Generation Students Western Joins Organization Dedicated to the Success of First Generation Students

Eksperience App Launches with Student-Athletes at Western Eksperience App Launches with Student-Athletes at Western

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

View All Events

Sep
14

Intro to Mountain Biking

Sep
14

Intro to Solar Photovoltaic Installations

Sep
14

Volleyball vs. Academy of Art University

Sep
14

16th Annual Mountaineer / Cowboy Invite

Sep
14

Volleyball vs. Texas A&M Kingsville

Sep
15

Women's Soccer vs. St. Edwards University

Sep
16

Karaoke & Krispies

Sep
17

Game Night at the MFH

Sep
19

Resume Review Pop-Up

Sep
20

Homecoming 2024

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.

Several students use laptops to work on homework together in a study space.

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.