Western Colorado University Acceptance Rate
Gunnison, Colorado · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 3,283
- Admitted
- 3,200
- Yield
- 13.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Western Colorado University's acceptance rate has held roughly steady at 97.5% (97.4% in 2014–15, 97.5% in 2023–24). Applications grew from 1,199 to 3,283 (+174%) over that period.
Its 97.5% rate makes Western Colorado University more selective than about 4% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 17 tracked Colorado schools, it is more selective than about 18%.
Western Colorado University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 13.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 1,199 | 1,168 | 97.4% | 454 |
| 2015–16 | 1,631 | 1,592 | 97.6% | 467 |
| 2016–17 | 2,191 | 2,013 | 91.9% | 469 |
| 2017–18 | 1,954 | 1,680 | 86% | 447 |
| 2018–19 | 1,975 | 1,756 | 88.9% | 509 |
| 2019–20 | 2,504 | 2,107 | 84.1% | 454 |
| 2020–21 | 2,625 | 2,323 | 88.5% | 420 |
| 2021–22 | 3,243 | 2,947 | 90.9% | 456 |
| 2022–23 | 3,116 | 2,862 | 91.8% | 439 |
| 2023–24 | 3,283 | 3,200 | 97.5% | 423 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 1,614 | 1,571 | 97.3% |
| Men | 1,669 | 1,629 | 97.6% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 500–630 | 29% |
| SAT Math | 500–610 | |
| ACT Composite | 21–28 | 10% |
How Western Colorado University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Western Colorado University's acceptance rate?
Western Colorado University's acceptance rate is 97.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,200 admitted of 3,283 applicants).
Is Western Colorado University test optional?
Western Colorado University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Western Colorado University?
Western Colorado University received 3,283 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,200.
What SAT score do you need for Western Colorado University?
Admitted students at Western Colorado University typically scored 500–630 on SAT Reading/Writing and 500–610 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.western.edu/.