- Acceptance rate: 100% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 608–683 reading and writing, 555–670 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 22–26 composite
- Average net price: $17,709 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Western Colorado University reported: an acceptance rate of 100% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 22–26.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Western Colorado University reviews each application.
Western Colorado University GPA requirements
Western Colorado University doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Western Colorado University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Western Colorado University acceptance rate
Western Colorado University admitted 3,110 of 3,119 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 100%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Western Colorado University (formerly Western State Colorado University) is a public 4-year university in Gunnison, Colorado, with 3,148 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Western Colorado University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 608 | 640 | 683 |
| SAT Math | 555 | 620 | 670 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 24 | 26 |
| ACT English | 21 | 24 | 27 |
| ACT Math | 20 | 24 | 24 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1230 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Western Colorado University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
AP credit
Western Colorado University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $17,709 a year at Western Colorado University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Western Colorado University?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Western Colorado University admitted 100% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Western Colorado University?
No. Western Colorado University is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 11% sent SAT scores and 8% sent ACT scores.
How important is GPA for getting into Western Colorado University?
It's one factor among several: It considers high school GPA, high school record, high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Is a 3.0 GPA good enough for Western Colorado University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Western Colorado University admitted 100% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What SAT and ACT scores do Western Colorado University students have?
The middle 50% of Western Colorado University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 608–683 in reading and writing and 555–670 in math; ACT composite 22–26, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What is Western Colorado University's acceptance rate?
Western Colorado University's acceptance rate was 100% for fall 2024: it admitted 3,110 of 3,119 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA do you need to get into Western Colorado University?
Western Colorado University doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Western Colorado University?
Yes. Western Colorado University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Western Colorado University consider legacy status?
Yes. Western Colorado University considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How much does Western Colorado University cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $17,709 a year at Western Colorado University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check Western Colorado University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Western Colorado UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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