Western State Colorado University vs. St. Cloud State University

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

Western State Colorado University St. Cloud State University
Location Gunnison, CO Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 3,548 10,420
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #709 #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website western.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western State Colorado University St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $6,936 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $18,960 $18,695
Room & Board $10,286 $9,950
Avg Net Price $16,672 $14,065
Avg Grant Aid $9,189 $6,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 98%

Admission

Western State Colorado University St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,116 4,810
Admitted 2,862 4,583
Acceptance Rate 91.8% 95.3%
Enrolled % 15.3% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 18/24
SAT Range 1010/1270 1027/1200
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 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Western State Colorado University St. Cloud State University
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 (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Western State Colorado University St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 39% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $222 $232

Diversity

Western State Colorado University St. Cloud State University
% Men 49% 43%
% Women 51% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 73%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 6% 1%

Students

Western State Colorado University St. Cloud State University
% In-State 72% 75%
% Out-of-State 27% 11%

Campus

Western State Colorado University St. Cloud 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

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Western State Colorado University based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 3,548 students)

Western State Colorado University vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western State Colorado University or St. Cloud State University?

  • Saint Cloud State University is 27% more expensive to attend than Western State Colorado University for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $6,936.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.4% higher at Western State Colorado University than Saint Cloud State University ($18,960.00 vs. $18,695.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Western State Colorado University ($14,065 vs. $16,672)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 3.4% lower than costs at Western State Colorado University ($9,950 vs. $10,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University than Western State Colorado University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western State Colorado University students is 52.1% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($9,189 vs. $6,042)

Western State Colorado University vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Saint Cloud State University (1030) is 66 points higher than at Western State Colorado University (964)
  • Incoming St. Cloud State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Western State Colorado University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Western State Colorado University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Western State Colorado University (91.8%)

Western State Colorado University vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western State Colorado University or St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud State University and Western State Colorado University.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than Western State Colorado University (48% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $5,900 more per year than Western State Colorado University graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $40,800)
  • Western State Colorado University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,500)
  • Western State Colorado University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($222 vs. $232)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western State Colorado University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 61%)

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