Central Washington University vs. Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Deciding between Central Washington University and Lake Washington Institute of Technology? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Central Washington University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WA
  • Setting
  • Central Washington University Distant Town
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Central Washington University 10,811
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 3,564
  • Type
  • Central Washington University Public 4 Year
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central Washington University #621
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central Washington University -
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology -
  • Status
  • Central Washington University Non-profit
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Non-profit
  • Website
  • Central Washington University cwu.edu
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology lwtech.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Central Washington University
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central Washington University $9,417
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology $5,997
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central Washington University $27,526
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology $12,062
  • Room & Board
  • Central Washington University $16,480
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology $19,041
  • Average Net Price
  • Central Washington University $19,898
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology $8,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central Washington University $8,816
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology $6,880
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central Washington University 85%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 44%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Central Washington University Calculate
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Calculate
  • Applied
  • Central Washington University 8,919
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology -
  • Admitted
  • Central Washington University 8,082
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central Washington University 90.6%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Open
  • Enrolled
  • Central Washington University 20%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central Washington University 1040
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central Washington University 20
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central Washington University 3.08
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central Washington University B
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central Washington University Very Easy
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central Washington University
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology
  • ACT Range
  • Central Washington University 17/24
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology
  • SAT Range
  • Central Washington University 930/1150
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central Washington University Test-free
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central Washington University 15:1
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central Washington University
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology
    • Health Professions (39%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central Washington University $47,800
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology $44,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central Washington University 60%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central Washington University $20,737
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology $15,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central Washington University $214
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology $160

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central Washington University 44%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 43%
  • % Women
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central Washington University Medium
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Medium
  • HBCU
  • Central Washington University No
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology No
  • % White
  • Central Washington University 59%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 64%
  • % Asian
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 8%
  • % Black
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central Washington University 14%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 8%
  • % Native American
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central Washington University 7%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 6%
  • % International
  • Central Washington University 3%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central Washington University 9%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central Washington University 94%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central Washington University 6%
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Central Washington University No
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology No
  • Meal Plan
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Central Washington University No
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Yes
  • Learn More
  • Central Washington University Details
  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA with Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Washington University is larger than Lake Washington Institute of Technology based on total student enrollment (10,811 students vs. 3,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, WA (Distant Town setting); Lake Washington Institute of Technology is in Kirkland, WA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Central Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Washington University 15:1; Lake Washington Institute of Technology 18:1.

Central Washington University vs. Lake Washington Institute of Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lake Washington Institute of Technology than Central Washington University ($8,801 vs. $19,898).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Washington University are 13.4% lower than at Lake Washington Institute of Technology ($16,480 vs. $19,041).
  • Central Washington University is 57% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Washington Institute of Technology (about $3,420 more per year; $9,417.00 vs. $5,997.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 128.2% higher at Central Washington University than at Lake Washington Institute of Technology (about $15,464 more per year; $27,526.00 vs. $12,062.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Washington University than at Lake Washington Institute of Technology (85% vs. 44%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 28.1% larger than aid received by Lake Washington Institute of Technology students ($8,816 vs. $6,880).

Central Washington University vs. Lake Washington Institute of Technology Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Lake Washington Institute of Technology and Central Washington University.

  • Lake Washington Institute of Technology reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Washington University 930/1150.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Washington University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central Washington University - Test-free; Lake Washington Institute of Technology - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027.

Central Washington University vs. Lake Washington Institute of Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Washington University and Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Lake Washington Institute of Technology graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $44,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Washington Institute of Technology graduates have a $5,237 lower median loan debt than Central Washington University graduates ($15,500 vs. $20,737).
  • Among borrowers, Lake Washington Institute of Technology graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central Washington University graduates ($160 vs. $214).
  • More Central Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Washington Institute of Technology students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.