Central Washington University vs. Northwest Indian College

Should I go to Central Washington University or Northwest Indian College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central Washington University or Northwest Indian College 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.

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Central Washington University vs. Northwest Indian College comparison
Central Washington University Northwest Indian College College 3 College 4
Central Washington University
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Overview

Central Washington University Northwest Indian College
Location Ellensburg, WA Bellingham, WA
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 8,796 696
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #667
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cwu.edu nwic.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central Washington University Northwest Indian College
Tuition (In State) $7,021 $3,564
Tuition (Out of State) $24,600 $3,564
Room & Board $16,314 $5,500
Avg Net Price $15,558 $9,875
Avg Grant Aid $8,970 $8,084
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

Central Washington University Northwest Indian College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,829 -
Admitted 6,161 -
Acceptance Rate 90.2% Open
Enrolled % 25.5% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.08 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 930/1150
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2026

Academics

Central Washington University Northwest Indian College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (77%)
  • Ethnic Studies (13%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (4%)
  • Education (1%)
  • General Studies (1%)

Outcomes

Central Washington University Northwest Indian College
Graduation Rate 56% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,800 $26,500
Making Student Loan Payments 60% -
Median Student Loan Debt $20,737 N/A
Median Loan Payment $214 N/A

Diversity

Central Washington University Northwest Indian College
% Men 2% 1%
% Women 3% 2%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 2%
% Black 4% 0%
% Hispanic 14% 4%
% Native American 1% 87%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 9% 0%

Students

Central Washington University Northwest Indian College
% In-State 93% 73%
% Out-of-State 6% 27%

Campus

Central Washington University Northwest Indian College
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

  • Central Washington University is larger than than Northwest Indian College based on total student enrollment (8,796 students vs. 696 students)

Central Washington University vs. Northwest Indian College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or Northwest Indian College?

  • Central Washington University is 97% more expensive to attend than Northwest Indian College for in-state tuition ($7,021.00 vs. $3,564.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 590.2% higher at Central Washington University than Northwest Indian College ($24,600.00 vs. $3,564.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwest Indian College than Central Washington University ($9,875 vs. $15,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Indian College are 196.6% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($5,500 vs. $16,314)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwest Indian College than Central Washington University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 11% larger than aid received Northwest Indian College ($8,970 vs. $8,084)

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

Central Washington University vs. Northwest Indian College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central Washington University or Northwest Indian College? 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 Northwest Indian College and Central Washington University.

  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $21,300 more per year than Northwest Indian College graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $26,500)

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