Western Colorado University
A small public university in Gunnison
Western Colorado University serves about 3,500 students from its campus in Gunnison. Surrounded by hiking and biking trails, and just a short drive from Crested Butte Mountain Resort, the university provides students with easy access to outdoor recreation in addition to its academic offerings. Gunnison County would be unrecognizable without Western—the university is one of the area’s largest employers and a major driver of the county’s economy. Area businesses benefit from a local hiring pool of skilled recent graduates.
Watch the video below to learn what it’s like to be a student at Western.
Academics at Western Colorado University
Small class sizes give Western Colorado University students a personalized, hands-on education. Students at Western gain a combination of traditional liberal arts curricula and immersive practical experience. Western offers more than 100 areas of academic study in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Some areas of study and extracurricular programs at Western lean into students’ interest in adventure sports and the outdoor industry.
- The Outdoor Industry MBA program applies business best practices to leadership in outdoor-focused companies and startups.
- The Mountain Sports program allows student-athletes to compete in their favorite outdoor sports while getting their degree.
- Through the Western-CU Boulder engineering partnership program, students earn a CU degree while living and studying at Western. Many engineering students choose to apply their learnings to outdoor pursuits, from gear testing to climate change research.
New nursing program at Western Colorado University
Photo courtesy of Western Colorado University
Western’s new nursing program will launch in fall 2026. Work is already underway to prepare facilities for future nursing students. With grant funding and support from the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, the university built a cutting-edge Simulation Lab, where students will practice their skills on lifelike mannikins. Local high school students will also have access to the facility.
Western Colorado University Community Resources
Events, Gym and Extended Studies
Faculty, staff and student groups bring visiting speakers, filmmakers, poets, scientists and politicians to campus. That’s on top of concerts and movie screenings. Many of Western’s events are free and open to the public. Some classes, including first aid, are also open to the public. Learn more on Western’s community classes page.
The university’s Mountaineer Field House is also available for community use. The facility includes an indoor track, cardio and weight room, an aquatics center, spin studio, climbing wall and more.
