Central Washington University vs. Seattle South

Deciding between Central Washington University and South Seattle College? 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA
  • Seattle South Seattle, WA
  • Setting
  • Central Washington University Distant Town
  • Seattle South Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Central Washington University 10,811
  • Seattle South 5,210
  • Type
  • Central Washington University Public 4 Year
  • Seattle South Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central Washington University #621
  • Seattle South
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central Washington University -
  • Seattle South -
  • Status
  • Central Washington University Non-profit
  • Seattle South Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Central Washington University
  • Seattle South

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central Washington University $9,417
  • Seattle South $5,238
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central Washington University $27,526
  • Seattle South $5,796
  • Room & Board
  • Central Washington University $16,480
  • Seattle South $19,041
  • Average Net Price
  • Central Washington University $19,898
  • Seattle South $8,012
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central Washington University $8,816
  • Seattle South $7,483
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central Washington University 85%
  • Seattle South 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Central Washington University 8,919
  • Seattle South -
  • Admitted
  • Central Washington University 8,082
  • Seattle South -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central Washington University 90.6%
  • Seattle South Open
  • Enrolled
  • Central Washington University 20%
  • Seattle South Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central Washington University 1040
  • Seattle South
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central Washington University 20
  • Seattle South
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central Washington University 3.08
  • Seattle South -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central Washington University B
  • Seattle South -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central Washington University Very Easy
  • Seattle South Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central Washington University
  • Seattle South
  • ACT Range
  • Central Washington University 17/24
  • Seattle South
  • SAT Range
  • Central Washington University 930/1150
  • Seattle South
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central Washington University Test-free
  • Seattle South Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027
  • Seattle South Sep 13, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central Washington University 15:1
  • Seattle South 33:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central Washington University
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Seattle South
    • Business (22%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (20%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Precision Production Trades (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • Seattle South -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central Washington University $47,800
  • Seattle South $39,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central Washington University 60%
  • Seattle South -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central Washington University $20,737
  • Seattle South N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central Washington University $214
  • Seattle South N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central Washington University 44%
  • Seattle South 69%
  • % Women
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • Seattle South 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central Washington University Medium
  • Seattle South Very High
  • HBCU
  • Central Washington University No
  • Seattle South No
  • % White
  • Central Washington University 59%
  • Seattle South 34%
  • % Asian
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • Seattle South 14%
  • % Black
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • Seattle South 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central Washington University 14%
  • Seattle South 10%
  • % Native American
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • Seattle South 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • Seattle South 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central Washington University 7%
  • Seattle South 7%
  • % International
  • Central Washington University 3%
  • Seattle South 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central Washington University 9%
  • Seattle South 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central Washington University 94%
  • Seattle South 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central Washington University 6%
  • Seattle South 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA with South Seattle College in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Washington University is larger than Seattle South based on total student enrollment (10,811 students vs. 5,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, WA (Distant Town setting); South Seattle College is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
  • Central Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. South Seattle College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Washington University 15:1; South Seattle College 33:1.

Central Washington University vs. Seattle South Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or Seattle South? 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 South Seattle College than Central Washington University ($8,012 vs. $19,898).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Washington University are 13.4% lower than at South Seattle College ($16,480 vs. $19,041).
  • Central Washington University is 79.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Seattle South (about $4,179 more per year; $9,417.00 vs. $5,238.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 374.9% higher at Central Washington University than at South Seattle College (about $21,730 more per year; $27,526.00 vs. $5,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Washington University than at South Seattle College (85% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 17.8% larger than aid received by South Seattle College students ($8,816 vs. $7,483).

Central Washington University vs. Seattle South Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or Seattle South? 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 Seattle South and Central Washington University.

  • South Seattle College 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; Seattle South - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027; Seattle South Sep 13, 2026.

Central Washington University vs. Seattle South Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Washington University and Seattle South? 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 $8,100 more per year than Seattle South graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $39,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.