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Compare Fort Lewis College vs Western Colorado University

Durango, CO · Gunnison, CO

Fort Lewis CollegeWestern Colorado University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$17,296/yr$16,425/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$18,622/yr$11,490/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$18,389$20,250
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$17,014/yr$10,868/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$19,468/yr$13,908/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$19,498/yr$16,928/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$13,158/yr$21,396/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$195/mo$215/mo
Room & board (on campus)$13,680/yr$10,760/yr
Room & board (off campus)$16,784/yr$16,785/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,250/yr$1,350/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$4,180/yr$3,294/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$27,030/yr$25,736/yr
Tuition (in-state)$9,958/yr$11,318/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$21,526/yr$24,434/yr
Students with Pell Grants35%12%
Students taking federal loans30%20%
Getting in
Students who get accepted77%100%
SAT range (middle 50%)1010–12101163–1353
SAT average11111230
ACT range (middle 50%)18–2622–26
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 18–26 · Math 18–26English 21–27 · Math 20–24
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received4,2533,283
Students accepted3,9643,200
Students who enrolled815423
Accepted students who enroll21%13%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores24%29%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores11%10%
High-school GPARequiredOptional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Class rankRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate36%51%
Freshmen who come back66%72%
Typical earnings 10 years in$46,349/yr$46,833/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$28,571–$68,747$32,806–$66,361
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)46%47%
White students graduating43%51%
Black students graduating25%64%
Hispanic students graduating37%44%
Asian students graduating17%25%
Typical earnings 6 years in$36,352/yr$40,037/yr
Earn more than a HS grad63%67%
Graduate on time21%35%
Pell students who graduate24%44%
First-gen students who finish39%47%
Low-income students who finish40%48%
Typical earnings 8 years in$41,375/yr$43,861/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 16% · Business, Management & Marketing 15% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 11%Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 13% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 16% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees
2nd most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 15% of degreesParks, Recreation & Fitness — 13% of degrees
3rd most popular programParks, Recreation & Fitness — 11% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees
4th most popular programNatural Resources & Conservation — 8% of degreesSocial Sciences — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programHealth Professions — 7% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 8% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Engineering, General — $50,985/yrEconomics — $53,403/yr
Degrees in STEM16%22%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment3,0791,586
Students per professor14 : 117 : 1
Graduate students152420
Average professor pay$6,374/mo$7,628/mo
Full-time professors82%68%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$41,306$61,406
SettingTown (distant)Town (remote)
LocationDurango, COGunnison, CO
RegionRocky MountainsRocky Mountains
Founded19111901
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Diverse FieldsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students0.7%1.3%
Men47%57%
Women53%43%
White students43%76%
Black students1.7%3.2%
Hispanic or Latino students15%11%
Asian students0.5%1.2%
Two or more races12%3.9%
Other / not reported27%3.6%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students31%25%
Part-time students8.6%9.6%
Students age 25+12%7%
Spent on teaching per student$10,644/yr$14,568/yr
Endowment$34.1M$9.5M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,6371,263
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$5,212/yr$5,304/yr
Meal plan charge$6,122/yr$5,183/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week19 meals/weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCNoNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division II with footballNCAA Division II with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams129
Student athletes370460
Athletic scholarships$2.7M$2.3M
Athletics budget$8.6M$8.4M
Athletics revenue$8.7M$8.4M
Recruiting spend$105,228$108,799

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.