The business world can be extremely rewarding for those who are well-prepared. A strong foundation in business will enable you to enjoy the long-term gains of your career–regardless of the fluctuations of the economy. Western Colorado University’s unique model of business education is dedicated to comprehensively preparing you for the global marketplace.

Education at the speed of the global marketplace.
Our business programs are evaluated annually to ensure that our curriculum matches the needs of the global marketplace. As a business student, you can seize the unique opportunity to be mentored by accomplished industry-leading professors, develop relationships with potential employers and gain practical experience in more than 40 internship locations.
Getting ahead
Western students meet with interested employers at the annual Job and Career Fair.
Career Success

We cultivate well-prepared business professionals.
At Western, our professors ensure that business students have a strong foundation in communications, problem solving and critical thinking. Our business curriculum tracks the requirements of the markets, mixes business theory with practical application to real-world problems and offers unlimited experiential learning opportunities. Western’s School of Business will help you form relationships with potential employers and gain experience through internships—all of which will set you up for a successful business career.
Prepared for success
In a mock internship interview, student Tierce Weaver faces an interview panel.

Take advantage of Western’s scholarship opportunities.
We know that financing your education is expensive and the process can seem overwhelming. We are committed to helping you find the resources you need to start and finish for your education at Western. To ensure that you have a clear understanding of the financial aid process, we’ll answer any questions that you might have and help your work through navigating the different resource options you might have including student loan repayment, personal budgeting and personal debt management. We can also work with you to discuss the details of our 37 School of Business scholarships.
Leading the way in business ethics
Six Western students took home first-place honors at the ninth annual University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) Business Ethics Case Competition.
Study Abroad

Explore a world-sized classroom.
Take your education international with Western’s School of Business with Harlaxton College, a top-ranked study abroad program. Harlaxton College is a 150 room Victorian manor house in the English midlands. Study for a full semester, a summer or a two week intensive course. Not only is the Harlaxton College program competitively priced compared to other study abroad programs, but the location allows you to explore the rest of Europe in your spare time.
World-sized classroom
Explore global opportunities in the School of Business with Harlaxton College, a top-ranked study abroad program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities*. This platform houses over 300+ school-specific and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.
Check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
*Please note these opportunities are only open to undergraduate students. OIMBA graduate students are encouraged to consider program fellowship opportunities.
Find your scholarships!Eligibility
- Full-time students who have been accepted into the Energy Management program
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Financial need will be considered
Description
This scholarship is provided by Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
Award depends on funds available.
Selected by: Chair(s) of the Energy Management program.
Application:
Contact Veronica Wilde, External Communications for Energy Management for scholarship applications and deadline information
970.901.2685 | Hurst Hall 106
Eligibility
- Full-time students that have been accepted to the Engery Management Program
- Demonstrate financial need
Description
This scholarship is provided by Various Energy Management associated companies.
Award depends on funds available
Selected by: Energy Management Leadership
Application
Contact Veronica Wilde, External Communications for Energy Management for scholarship applications and deadline information
970.901.2685 | Hurst Hall 106
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities*. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.
Check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
*Please note these opportunities are only open to undergraduate students. OIMBA graduate students are encouraged to consider program fellowship opportunities.
Find your scholarships!Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
School of Business
Associate Dean
Kevin A. Nelson, Ph.D.Associate Dean of the School of Business, Graduate Faculty for Outdoor Industry MBA
Executive Assistant
Christina SorensenExecutive Assistant
OIMBA Program Director
Jennifer DeBoer, Ph.D.Director, Outdoor Industry MBA; Assistant Professor of Business Administration - Strategy; Graduate Faculty for Outdoor Industry MBA
Contact Information
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Borick Business Building 223
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231