Match #1
Adams State University
Alamosa, CO
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate100%
- 1,250 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Enrollment 1,250 students, close to 1,586
- Acceptance rate 100%, close to 100%
The colleges most similar to Western Colorado University are Adams State University, University of Northern Colorado, and University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Western Colorado University admits 100% of applicants and has an average net price of $16,756 a year; 6 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 1 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Western Colorado University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Western Colorado University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate86%
- 5,598 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 49%, close to 48%
- Average net price $18,711, close to $16,756
Match #3
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
Profile closeness68/100
Admit rate97%
- 8,697 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 46%, close to 48%
- Acceptance rate 97%, close to 100%
Match #4
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO
Profile closeness65/100
Admit rate77%
- 3,079 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Same control type (public)
Match #5
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO
Profile closeness62/100
Admit rate82%
- 8,143 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 43%, close to 48%
- Average net price $14,808, close to $16,756
Match #6
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO
Profile closeness57/100
Admit rate99%
- 15,002 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Acceptance rate 99%, close to 100%
- Average net price $13,803, close to $16,756
Match #7
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO
Profile closeness53/100
Admit rate75%
- 10,519 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 49%, close to 48%
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO
Profile closeness47/100
Admit rate—
- 2,816 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Same control type (public)
Match #9
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Profile closeness41/100
Admit rate89%
- 25,538 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
University of Colorado Boulder Main Campus
Boulder, CO
Profile closeness32/100
Admit rate78%
- 31,939 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Same control type (public)
Questions about Western Colorado University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Western Colorado University?
The closest matches to Western Colorado University are Adams State University, University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Fort Lewis College, and Colorado Mesa University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Western Colorado University hard to get into?
Western Colorado University admitted 100% of its 3,243 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 1 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Western Colorado University alternatives cost less?
6 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Western Colorado University ($16,756 a year), including Colorado Mountain College ($8,218), Adams State University ($8,585), and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ($10,217). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
