Our History

Western State College was established in 1901. It was the first college on Colorado's Western Slope and is the fourth oldest public college in the state.

The College actually opened for classes in 1911 as the Colorado State Normal School. Originally planned as a preparatory college for teachers, Western's role changed when it became Western State College in 1923. Though for many years Western was known for its graduates who became teachers, it was, in fact, the first Colorado college designed to teach a primarily liberal arts curriculum, and the liberal arts have remained at the core of Western's academic life ever since.

During the postwar years of the 1940s, Western's enrollment soared as veterans took advantage of the GI Bill and new programs were added. By the 1970s, enrollment was exceeding 3,000, crowding the College so much that new freshmen often slept in the halls of their dorms for the first few days, until a dorm room became available. During the 1980s, Western began to focus exclusively on undergraduate education in three core areas: the liberal arts, teacher education, and professional programs. Western's enrollment has remained at about 2,400 students. Throughout its history, Western has been a source of innovation and excellence which is reflected in the quality of its programs and in the success and achievements of its graduates.