Colorado Mesa vs. Western State Colorado University

Should I go to Colorado Mesa University or Western State Colorado University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado Mesa or Western State Colorado University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colorado Mesa University vs. Western State Colorado University comparison
Colorado Mesa University Western State Colorado University College 3 College 4
Colorado Mesa University Western State Colorado University
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Overview

Colorado Mesa Western State Colorado University
Location Grand Junction, CO Gunnison, CO
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 8,905 3,548
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #886 #709
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mesastate.edu western.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado Mesa Western State Colorado University
Tuition (In State) $8,261 $6,936
Tuition (Out of State) $21,983 $18,960
Room & Board $11,522 $10,286
Avg Net Price $15,085 $16,672
Avg Grant Aid $9,209 $9,189
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 91%

Admission

Colorado Mesa Western State Colorado University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,810 3,116
Admitted 8,021 2,862
Acceptance Rate 81.8% 91.8%
Enrolled % 21.8% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 21/29
SAT Range 930/1180 1010/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Colorado Mesa Western State Colorado University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Colorado Mesa Western State Colorado University
Graduation Rate 25% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $40,800
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,750 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $224 $222

Diversity

Colorado Mesa Western State Colorado University
% Men 47% 49%
% Women 53% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 75%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 17% 10%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 6%

Students

Colorado Mesa Western State Colorado University
% In-State 83% 72%
% Out-of-State 16% 27%

Campus

Colorado Mesa Western State Colorado University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado Mesa University is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (8,905 students vs. 3,548 students)

Colorado Mesa vs. Western State Colorado University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado Mesa or Western State Colorado University?

  • Colorado Mesa University is 19.1% more expensive to attend than Western State Colorado University for in-state tuition ($8,261.00 vs. $6,936.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.9% higher at Colorado Mesa than Western State Colorado University ($21,983.00 vs. $18,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado Mesa University than Western State Colorado University ($15,085 vs. $16,672)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western State Colorado University are 12% lower than costs at Colorado Mesa University ($10,286 vs. $11,522)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western State Colorado University than Colorado Mesa University (91% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado Mesa University students is 0.2% larger than aid received Western State Colorado University ($9,209 vs. $9,189)

Colorado Mesa vs. Western State Colorado University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado Mesa or Western State Colorado University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Western State Colorado University or Colorado Mesa .

  • The average SAT score at Western State Colorado University (964) is 12 points higher than at Colorado Mesa (952)
  • Incoming Colorado Mesa students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at Western State Colorado University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Western State Colorado University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Colorado Mesa (3.28)
  • Western State Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Colorado Mesa (81.8%)

Colorado Mesa vs. Western State Colorado University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado Mesa or Western State Colorado University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Western State Colorado University and Colorado Mesa.

  • The graduation rate at Western State Colorado University is higher than Colorado Mesa University (39% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Western State Colorado University earn on average $800 more per year than Colorado Mesa graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $40,000)
  • Western State Colorado University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado Mesa graduates. ($21,500 vs. $21,750)
  • Western State Colorado University graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado Mesa graduates. ($222 vs. $224)
  • More Western State Colorado University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado Mesa students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/