Central Washington University vs. EWU

Should I go to Central Washington University or Eastern Washington University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central Washington University or EWU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Central Washington University vs. Eastern Washington University comparison
Central Washington University Eastern Washington University College 3 College 4
Central Washington University Eastern Washington University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Central Washington University EWU
Location Ellensburg, WA Cheney, WA
Setting Distant Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 9,257 10,910
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #610 #858
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cwu.edu ewu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central Washington University EWU
Tuition (In State) $6,816 $7,104
Tuition (Out of State) $23,881 $25,494
Room & Board $13,645 $13,739
Avg Net Price $15,864 $12,827
Avg Grant Aid $9,294 $9,200
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 92%

Admission

Central Washington University EWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,409 4,666
Admitted 5,992 4,485
Acceptance Rate 93.5% 96.1%
Enrolled % 23.5% 30.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.08 3.29
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 16/23
SAT Range 930/1150 880/1090
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025 Sep 10, 2024

Academics

Central Washington University EWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

Central Washington University EWU
Graduation Rate 56% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,800 $45,300
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,737 $20,818
Median Loan Payment $214 $215

Diversity

Central Washington University EWU
% Men 47% 39%
% Women 53% 61%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 67%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 14% 14%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 9% 2%

Students

Central Washington University EWU
% In-State 95% 94%
% Out-of-State 5% 5%

Campus

Central Washington University EWU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Washington University is larger than than Central Washington University based on total student enrollment (10,910 students vs. 9,257 students)

Central Washington University vs. EWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or EWU?

  • Eastern Washington University is 4.2% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($7,104.00 vs. $6,816.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.8% higher at EWU than Central Washington University ($25,494.00 vs. $23,881.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Washington University than Central Washington University ($12,827 vs. $15,864)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Washington University are 0.7% lower than costs at Eastern Washington University ($13,645 vs. $13,739)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Washington University than Central Washington University (92% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 1% larger than aid received Eastern Washington University ($9,294 vs. $9,200)

Central Washington University vs. EWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or EWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between EWU or Central Washington University .

  • The average SAT score at Central Washington University (978) is 8 points higher than at EWU (970)
  • Incoming Central Washington University students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at EWU (21)
  • Accepted freshman EWU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
  • EWU has a higher acceptance rate (96.1%) than Central Washington University (93.5%)

Central Washington University vs. EWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central Washington University or EWU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between EWU and Central Washington University.

  • The graduation rate at Central Washington University is higher than Eastern Washington University (56% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $2,500 more per year than EWU graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $45,300)
  • Central Washington University students graduate with a $81 lower median federal student loan debt than EWU graduates. ($20,737 vs. $20,818)
  • Central Washington University graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than EWU graduates. ($214 vs. $215)
  • More EWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Washington University students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/