Mission & Campus Profile
Promoting intellectual maturity and personal growth.
Scroll to bottom of sectionLocated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Western Colorado University delivers career preparation, engineering, computer and other sciences and a liberal arts curriculum to 2,900 intellectually adventurous students. Here, students can explore their field of study, gain leadership experience and discover extraordinary adventure in western Colorado.
Our Mission
Dedicated to education, enriched by our community.
Western Colorado University promotes intellectual maturity and personal growth in its students and prepares them to assume constructive roles in local, national and global communities. Western’s distinctive character emerges from its unity among academic and professional disciplines, high standards of scholarship, and a unique environment in the mountains of western Colorado.
Discover tomorrow’s leaders
Western programs combine academic rigor with personal development, so students have the skills to succeed as professionals in their field of study.
Setting the stage for success
Western’s location in Gunnison, Colorado provides an excellent academic experience in a gorgeous setting.
Facts & Figures
Western’s size and setting promotes exceptional educational experiences.
Our university’s small size and unique setting ensures students receive personalized attention, gain hands-on experience and become better leaders. We are proud to serve our state and country by preparing our students to make meaningful contributions in Colorado and beyond. From cybersecurity experts to social workers and teachers, Western graduates become preeminent leaders in their fields.
The following statistics reflect the most recent stable data compiled by the institution encompassing retention, graduation rates, institutional research, common data sets, student outcomes, and student achievements. For more information, visit Western’s profile on the National Center for Education Statistics website.
Established: 1901
Location: Gunnison, Colorado
Type: Public, 4-year
Religious affiliation: None
Highest degree offered: Master’s
Student-to-faculty ratio: 17 to 1
Mascot: Mad Jack the Mountaineer
Colors: Crimson and slate
Graduation rate: 51%
Applicants admitted: 97%
Students considered for aid: 100%
Students who receive aid: 90%
Total enrollment: 3,548
Undergraduate: 3,095
Graduate: 453
Male: 51%
Female: 49%
In-state: 72%
Out-of-state: 28%
White: 56%
Hispanic: 23%
Black or African American: 5%
Multi-Race: 3%
Asian: 3%
American Indian or Alaska Native: 1%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 1%
Unknown/Other: approx. 7%
STUDENT OUTCOME DATA
Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning
The mission of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning at Western Colorado University is to enhance the university’s ability to make informed decisions through rigorous data analysis, comprehensive strategic planning, and continuous improvement of academic and administrative functions. Our vision is to be a transformative force at Western Colorado University that drives excellence and innovation in liberal arts higher education by fostering a culture of evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and proactive strategic management.
Download the Institutional Data Set containing the following:
- Enrollment
Enrollment (All student levels)
| Resident FTE-S | Non-resident FTE-S | Cash Funded FTE-S | Total FTE-S | Fall Headcount | |
| 2018-19 | 1524.1 | 646.02 | 183.4 | 2353.52 | 3042 |
| 2019-20 | 1588.78 | 599.61 | 186.17 | 2374.56 | 3498 |
| 2020-21 | 1610.47 | 547.21 | 143.65 | 2301.33 | 3203 |
| 2021-22 | 1655.32 | 603.55 | 184.78 | 2443.65 | 3692 |
| 2022-23 | 1705.56 | 565.91 | 170.64 | 2442.11 | 3551 |
- First Time Freshman Retention Rates
Retention Rate defined (source IPEDS glossary)
A measure of the rate at which students persist in their educational program at an institution, expressed as a percentage. For four-year institutions, this is the percentage of first-time bachelors (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduates from the previous fall who are again enrolled in the current fall. For all other institutions this is the percentage of first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from the previous fall who either re-enrolled or successfully completed their program by the current fall.Fall to fall retention rate of first-time freshman cohort by year of matriculation Full Time Headcount % retained 2018 501 64% 2019 449 67% 2020 412 74% 2021 455 74% 2022 439 74% - Four- and Six-Year Graduation Rates
Graduation Rate defined (source IPEDS glossary)
Data are collected on the number of students entering the institution as full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students in a particular year (cohort), by race/ethnicity and gender; the number completing their program within 150 percent of normal time to completion; the number that transfer to other institutions if transfer is part of the institution’s mission.Graduation rate of first-time freshmen listed by cohort year Full time 4 Year 6 Year 2013 28% 51% 2014 28% 50% 2015 29% 48% 2016 28% 47% 2017 32% 46% - Major Head Counts
Undergraduate MajorsHead Count Majors 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 ACC 44 22 19 25 21 ADC 5 26 ANTH 18 17 16 14 11 ART 106 107 85 83 72 BIOL 242 247 218 217 215 BUAD 398 361 323 317 307 CHEM 32 35 31 28 25 COM 67 78 70 75 55 CS 61 67 83 104 128 ECON 41 33 34 20 20 EDUC 57 59 51 49 48 ENG 47 53 42 44 36 ENVS 136 130 111 97 98 ESS 170 148 152 166 GEOL 44 41 33 29 28 HIST 47 41 29 37 30 MATH 50 48 38 30 26 MUS 21 21 18 18 16 NTR 6 6 PHYS 2 110 132 POLS 63 65 47 43 39 PSY 150 130 107 130 133 ROE 157 116 97 104 82 SOC 89 84 94 77 63 SPAN 13 11 8 10 13 UNDCL 139 135 168 75 48 - FTE-S Generated by Program Code
Undergraduate FTESFTES 2018-19 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 ACC 44.63 34.37 28.6 27.73 25.50 ADC 0.13 1.10 ANTH 41.4 34 25.7 31.30 23.50 ART 95.83 92.67 85.47 80.13 74.33 BIOL 143.33 153.7 147.03 155.73 148.3o BUAD 194.63 167.8 171.03 169.13 157.60 CHEM 63.47 69.33 61.97 65.33 63.57 COM 123.7 135.4 116.3 120.17 109.97 CS 43 51.77 65.37 76.33 83.00 ECON 65.2 64.4 48.63 50.30 50.00 EDUC 20.18 27.9 26.57 22.07 28.47 ENG 144.4 153.03 132.27 172.70 125.43 ENGR 4.7 12.7 14.83 29.23 ENVS 64.47 64.3 61.7 55.97 55.13 ESS 101.43 83.5 73.13 78.37 90.33 GEOG 19.5 16.5 14.57 15.30 14.89 GEOL 61.61 55.97 44.5 47.20 39.53 HIST 50.87 50.6 56.03 47.40 48.33 HNRS 14.4 13.5 13.6 19.93 27.00 HWTR 18.87 17.23 15.43 16.97 15.63 MATH 151.17 168.87 188.3 186.53 199.10 MUS 59.55 44.78 37.73 37.67 28.65 PHIL 23.6 25.6 28 29.60 30.57 PHYS 38.57 48.13 56.93 66.40 68.13 POLS 61.67 49.5 51.8 61.93 56.27 PSY 114.33 98 114 133.27 154.07 ROE 116.97 99.4 120.1 154.17 52.10 SCI 8.97 9.2 6.47 8.03 0.60 SOC 76.9 103 94.1 90.40 89.40 SPAN 15.6 10.63 16.8 31.40 19.90
See more outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard site, or the National Center for Educational Statistics College Navigator page.
Common Data Set
- 2007-2008
- 2008-2009
- 2009-2010
- 2010-2011
- 2011-2012
- 2012-2013
- 2013-2014
- 2014-2015
- 2015-2016
- 2016-2017
- 2017-2018
- 2018-2019
- 2019-2020
- 2020-2021
- 2021-2022
- 2022-2023
- 2023-2024
- 2024-2025
Accreditation Information
Western Colorado University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
For more information, please go to Higher Learning Commission’s website at https://www.hlcommission.org/. The Higher Learning Commission may be contacted at 230 LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604, or 312.263.0456.
Inclusion
Learning through diverse experiences and perspectives.
We know people of different backgrounds bring various experiences and perspectives to the classroom and community. Through ongoing education, attention to cultural differences and a focus on social and intellectual growth, we strive to provide a healthy and supportive academic environment for all students, faculty and staff.
A focus on our values
Diversity is a core value at Western Colorado University, as it’s central to education and growth.
Find your voice
At Western, we provide the academic resources and social opportunities to succeed and grow as students and future leaders.
Western’s Statement on Diversity and Inclusion
“Western Colorado University takes a firm and unyielding stance in support of diversity, inclusivity, scientific inquiry and creative expression. We believe these principles are necessary for the free and open inquiry that defines our role as a public institution in a democratic society. We believe that these principles are a moral imperative requiring constant vigilance and a firm stance against actions motivated by hate or intimidation. The university welcomes people of color, people with disabilities, people of all genders and orientations, people of all religious preferences, immigrants and refugees regardless of national origin or ethnicity and other underrepresented communities regardless of socioeconomic class. We actively seek to build a civil and respectful culture which affirms these principles in all that we do.”
The Board of Trustees endorsed the above Statement on Diversity and Inclusion authored and adopted by the Faculty Senate.
Awards
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The best way to find out what makes Western such a special place is to experience it for yourself. Our student-led tours give you an insider’s perspective on everything from academics to student life.
Alumni Community
We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.
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