Western Connecticut State University

Western Connecticut State University is a public, state school in an urban setting in Danbury, Connecticut. WCSU was founded in 1903 and now enrolls around 5,247 students a year, including 4,641 undergrads. WCSU provides housing for up to 1,601 students. Most students live in off campus housing.

There are many ways for students to get involved at WCSU! Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of WCSU's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? WCSU students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Excited for Greek life? WCSU has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? WCSU has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at WCSU on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at WCSU on the Student Life page.

Is WCSU a Good School?

Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a closer look at to get a better idea of what WCSU offers and if it sounds like a good fit for you.

2021 Acceptance Rate for Western Connecticut State University

It is moderately difficult to get into WCSU. The acceptance rate at WCSU is 81%. Last year, 5,189 students applied to WCSU and 4,188 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at WCSU

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 76% of students who start at WCSU come back for their second year of college. Around 51% of students who started at WCSU earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outlook WCSU Graduates

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school.

WCSU's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2021, the total market value of the school endowment was $21.4 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, WCSU spends about $15,739 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at WCSU

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. WCSU meets 35% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $9,463 a year.

Students in the class of 2021 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $38,474 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at WCSU. Based on this information, how does WCSU sound? Remember, the best school for one person may not be the right school for another! So ask yourself: Is WCSU a good school for you?

If Western Connecticut State University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Doing Your Research?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

WCSU Community Forums

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Where is Western Connecticut State University Located?

WCSU is located in the urban setting of Danbury, Connecticut, less than an hour from New York City.

If you want to see WCSU for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 84 to Danbury, or book a flight to the nearest airport, LaGuardia.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what WCSU and Danbury are like without leaving home.

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