Western State promotes intellectual maturity and personal growth in its students and graduates citizens prepared to assume constructive roles in local, national, and global communities. Western helps its students to develop the skills and commitments needed to continue learning for the rest of their lives and strives to unifying academic domains which have traditionally existed separately: the sciences, the liberal arts, and professional programs. The College provides students with a solid foundation of skills in written and spoken communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Programs encourage a breadth and depth of knowledge, which will serve as a foundation for a professional career or graduate study, and an appreciation of values appropriate to a liberally educated individual.
< CollapseWestern State College of Colorado is a four-year public liberal arts college located in Gunnison, Colorado. The enrollment stands at about 2400 students with a high percentage, one-fourth, from out of state. The far flung appeal for some students is found in the idyllic mountains and ski slopes. The most popular majors at Western are business, art, recreation, biology, and a double major in business and recreation. Western also offers a state of the art petroleum geology program, founded and funded by Western State College alumni donations. The college's home town of Gunnison is located 30 minutes south of Crested Butte.
The college was originally founded as Colorado State Normal School by a bill signed on April 16, 1901 by Governor James B. Orman. In 1923, the college's name was changed to Western State College because its role expanded from a teaching institution to a liberal arts college.
Western State College's athletics are among the best in the nation in NCAA Division II. In addition to a rich tradition in football under former head coaches Bill Noxon and Carl "Duke" Iverson, the school boasts elite wrestling, cross-country, and track teams. Legendary cross-country coach Duane Vandenbusche retired after the 2007 season after winning 13 national championships at the school. The wrestling program is coached by 2004 Division II coach of the year Miles Vanhee. Western also has a rich tradition in NCAA skiing. The school competes in the NCAA Championship Sport against Division I schools in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA). Western State Skiing was a charter member of NCAA Skiing when it was formed in 1954 under Coach Sven Wiik. The team is currently coached by Jesse Crandall (Nordic) and Evan Weiss (Alpine)
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| Percent of Students International: | 0% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 58% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) Basketball (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) Track (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | In-State | Out-of-State | |
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 3,138 | $ 11,754 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 2,352 | $ 10,968 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 786 | $ 786 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,412 | 26% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 1,404 | 19% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 1,279 | 38% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,629 | 55% | |
Any Aid: |
79% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 87% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 29% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 470, Math: 450 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 570, Math: 560 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 86% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 18, Verbal: 18, Math: 17 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 23, Verbal: 23, Math: 24 |
| Application Fee: | $ 30.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Recommended |
| Recommendations: | Recommended |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
