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Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO 1,586 Undergrads 47.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,736
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,425
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,666
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,425
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$50,666Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$46,833Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate47.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age21.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
99.7%
SAT Avg
1,230
SAT Reading
25th: 60858075th: 683
SAT Math
25th: 55555575th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 222475th: 26
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$459k
-$8k
-$25k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$400k
-$67k
-$84k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$367k
-$100k
-$118k
ROI Efficiency Metrics⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-143%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-127%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-128%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-83%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,922
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,065
Earnings (4yr)
$50,954
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,470
Earnings (4yr)
$61,876
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$47,426
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Computer Programming
BachCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,435
Natl Median: $83,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,414
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,865
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,525
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,871
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,646
Earnings (4yr)
$49,170
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$14,753
Earnings (4yr)
$48,109
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,401
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,359
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$40,636
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,638
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$39,488
Earnings (4yr)
$67,308
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
MastCIP: 2609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.