Western State Colorado University vs. Black Hills State University

Should I go to Western State Colorado University or Black Hills State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western State Colorado University or Black Hills State 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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Western State Colorado University vs. Black Hills State University comparison
Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University College 3 College 4
Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University
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Overview

Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University
Location Gunnison, CO Spearfish, SD
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 3,548 3,425
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #709 #1006
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website western.edu bhsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University
Tuition (In State) $6,936 $7,700
Tuition (Out of State) $18,960 $10,800
Room & Board $10,286 $7,528
Avg Net Price $16,672 $16,782
Avg Grant Aid $9,189 $4,986
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 100%

Admission

Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,116 1,579
Admitted 2,862 1,526
Acceptance Rate 91.8% 96.6%
Enrolled % 15.3% 31.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.22
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Challenging Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 18/24
SAT Range 1010/1270 970/1085
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

Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University
Graduation Rate 39% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $38,800
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $25,478
Median Loan Payment $222 $263

Diversity

Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University
% Men 49% 37%
% Women 51% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 83%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 10% 5%
% Native American 1% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 6% 1%

Students

Western State Colorado University Black Hills State University
% In-State 72% 57%
% Out-of-State 27% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western State Colorado University is larger than than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (3,548 students vs. 3,425 students)

Western State Colorado University vs. Black Hills State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Black Hills State University is 11% more expensive to attend than Western State Colorado University for in-state tuition ($7,700.00 vs. $6,936.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.6% higher at Western State Colorado University than Black Hills State University ($18,960.00 vs. $10,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western State Colorado University than Black Hills State University ($16,672 vs. $16,782)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black Hills State University are 36.6% lower than costs at Western State Colorado University ($7,528 vs. $10,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Black Hills State University than Western State Colorado University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western State Colorado University students is 84.3% larger than aid received Black Hills State University ($9,189 vs. $4,986)

Western State Colorado University vs. Black Hills State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Black Hills State University (988) is 24 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
  • Incoming Black Hills State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Western State Colorado University students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Black Hills State University (3.22)
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than Western State Colorado University (91.8%)

Western State Colorado University vs. Black Hills State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western State Colorado University or Black Hills State 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 Black Hills State University and Western State Colorado University.

  • The graduation rate at Western State Colorado University is higher than Black Hills State University (39% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Western State Colorado University earn on average $2,000 more per year than Black Hills State University graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $38,800)
  • Western State Colorado University students graduate with a $3,978 lower median federal student loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,478)
  • Western State Colorado University graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Black Hills State University graduates. ($222 vs. $263)
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western State Colorado University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 61%)

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