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Compare University of Northern Colorado vs Western Colorado University

Greeley, CO · Gunnison, CO

University of Northern ColoradoWestern Colorado University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$17,760/yr$16,425/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$12,695/yr$11,490/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$20,470$20,250
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$13,290/yr$10,868/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$16,038/yr$13,908/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$18,441/yr$16,928/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$24,306/yr$21,396/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$217/mo$215/mo
Room & board (on campus)$16,154/yr$10,760/yr
Room & board (off campus)$16,254/yr$16,785/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,200/yr$1,350/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$3,710/yr$3,294/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$29,254/yr$25,736/yr
Tuition (in-state)$12,416/yr$11,318/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$27,266/yr$24,434/yr
Students with Pell Grants26%12%
Students taking federal loans37%20%
Getting in
Students who get accepted86%100%
SAT range (middle 50%)950–11901163–1353
SAT average10821230
ACT range (middle 50%)21–2622–26
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 20–26 · Math 17–25English 21–27 · Math 20–24
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received10,2743,283
Students accepted8,8803,200
Students who enrolled1,229423
Accepted students who enroll14%13%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores23%29%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores4%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 rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Work experienceNot consideredOptional (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 graduate51%51%
Freshmen who come back76%72%
Typical earnings 10 years in$52,231/yr$46,833/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$35,297–$71,676$32,806–$66,361
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)58%47%
White students graduating54%51%
Black students graduating45%64%
Hispanic students graduating48%44%
Asian students graduating48%25%
Typical earnings 6 years in$43,756/yr$40,037/yr
Earn more than a HS grad76%67%
Graduate on time38%35%
Pell students who graduate43%44%
First-gen students who finish53%47%
Low-income students who finish55%48%
Students who transfer out32%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$48,079/yr$43,861/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 13% · Education 13% · Health Professions 13%Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 13% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 13% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees
2nd most popular programEducation — 13% of degreesParks, Recreation & Fitness — 13% of degrees
3rd most popular programHealth Professions — 13% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 10% of degreesSocial Sciences — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programVisual & Performing Arts — 9% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 8% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $109,066/yrEconomics — $53,403/yr
Degrees in STEM8.5%22%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment5,5981,586
Students per professor14 : 117 : 1
Graduate students2,389420
Average professor pay$8,988/mo$7,628/mo
Full-time professors57%68%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$51,738$61,406
SettingCity (midsize)Town (remote)
LocationGreeley, COGunnison, CO
RegionRocky MountainsRocky Mountains
Founded18891901
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral/Professional UniversitiesMaster's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students1.3%1.3%
Men33%57%
Women67%43%
White students59%76%
Black students4.6%3.2%
Hispanic or Latino students27%11%
Asian students2.1%1.2%
Two or more races5.2%3.9%
Other / not reported1%3.6%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students35%25%
Part-time students8.2%9.6%
Students age 25+11%7%
Spent on teaching per student$10,378/yr$14,568/yr
Endowment$119.8M$9.5M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing3,5421,263
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$7,285/yr$5,304/yr
Meal plan charge$7,190/yr$5,183/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceNo
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 careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division II with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams139
Student athletes445460
Athletic scholarships$7.1M$2.3M
Athletics budget$23.2M$8.4M
Athletics revenue$23.2M$8.4M
Recruiting spend$253,341$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, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.