Western State Colorado University vs. NMSU

Should I go to Western State Colorado University or New Mexico State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western State Colorado University or NMSU 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. New Mexico State University Main Campus comparison
Western State Colorado University New Mexico State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Western State Colorado University New Mexico State University Main Campus
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Overview

Western State Colorado University NMSU
Location Gunnison, CO Las Cruces, NM
Setting Remote Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 3,548 14,268
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #709 #811
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website western.edu nmsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western State Colorado University NMSU
Tuition (In State) $6,936 $6,283
Tuition (Out of State) $18,960 $23,407
Room & Board $10,286 $11,252
Avg Net Price $16,672 $10,407
Avg Grant Aid $9,189 $13,168
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 95%

Admission

Western State Colorado University NMSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,116 15,860
Admitted 2,862 12,378
Acceptance Rate 91.8% 78%
Enrolled % 15.3% 18.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.55
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 17/23
SAT Range 1010/1270 900/1140
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 NMSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Western State Colorado University NMSU
Graduation Rate 39% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $39,400
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 44%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $17,118
Median Loan Payment $222 $176

Diversity

Western State Colorado University NMSU
% Men 49% 42%
% Women 51% 58%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 75% 30%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 10% 55%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 6% 3%

Students

Western State Colorado University NMSU
% In-State 72% 72%
% Out-of-State 27% 25%

Campus

Western State Colorado University NMSU
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

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (14,268 students vs. 3,548 students)

Western State Colorado University vs. NMSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Western State Colorado University is 10.4% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($6,936.00 vs. $6,283.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.5% higher at NMSU than Western State Colorado University ($23,407.00 vs. $18,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Western State Colorado University ($10,407 vs. $16,672)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western State Colorado University are 9.4% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Main Campus ($10,286 vs. $11,252)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Western State Colorado University (95% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 43.3% larger than aid received Western State Colorado University ($13,168 vs. $9,189)

Western State Colorado University vs. NMSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at New Mexico State University Main Campus (983) is 19 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
  • Incoming NMSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Western State Colorado University (3.42)
  • Western State Colorado University has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than NMSU (78%)

Western State Colorado University vs. NMSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western State Colorado University or NMSU? 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 NMSU and Western State Colorado University.

  • The graduation rate at NMSU is higher than Western State Colorado University (46% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Western State Colorado University earn on average $1,400 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $39,400)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $4,382 lower median federal student loan debt than Western State Colorado University graduates. ($17,118 vs. $21,500)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Western State Colorado University graduates. ($176 vs. $222)
  • More Western State Colorado University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 44%)

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