Central Washington University vs. Washington State

Should I go to Central Washington University or Washington State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central Washington University or Washington State 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. Washington State University comparison
Central Washington University Washington State University College 3 College 4
Central Washington University Washington State University
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Overview

 Central Washington University Washington State
Location Ellensburg, WA Pullman, WA
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 9,257 27,539
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #610 #386
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cwu.edu wsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central Washington University Washington State
Tuition (In State) $6,816 $10,708
Tuition (Out of State) $23,881 $26,392
Room & Board $13,645 $12,396
Avg Net Price $15,864 $17,911
Avg Grant Aid $9,294 $10,689
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 83%

Admission

 Central Washington University Washington State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,409 19,401
Admitted 5,992 16,123
Acceptance Rate 93.5% 83.1%
Enrolled % 23.5% 24.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.08 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 20/26
SAT Range 930/1150 1020/1210
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 Jan 31, 2025

Academics

 Central Washington University Washington State
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

 Central Washington University Washington State
Graduation Rate 56% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,800 $54,400
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,737 $20,429
Median Loan Payment $214 $211

Diversity

 Central Washington University Washington State
% Men 47% 46%
% Women 53% 54%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 63%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 14% 13%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 8%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 9% 2%

Students

 Central Washington University Washington State
% In-State 95% 83%
% Out-of-State 5% 15%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Washington State University is larger than than Central Washington University based on total student enrollment (27,539 students vs. 9,257 students)

Central Washington University vs. Washington State Cost Comparison

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

  • Washington State University is 57.1% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($10,708.00 vs. $6,816.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.5% higher at Washington State than Central Washington University ($26,392.00 vs. $23,881.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Washington University than Washington State ($15,864 vs. $17,911)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington State University are 10.1% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($12,396 vs. $13,645)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Washington State University than Central Washington University (83% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington State University students is 15% larger than aid received Central Washington University ($10,689 vs. $9,294)

Central Washington University vs. Washington State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Washington State University (1039) is 61 points higher than at Central Washington University (978)
  • Incoming Washington State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Central Washington University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Washington State students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
  • Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Washington State (83.1%)

Central Washington University vs. Washington State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central Washington University or Washington State? 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 Washington State and Central Washington University.

  • The graduation rate at Washington State is higher than Central Washington University (67% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Washington State University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Central Washington University graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $47,800)
  • Washington State University students graduate with a $308 lower median federal student loan debt than Central Washington University graduates. ($20,429 vs. $20,737)
  • Washington State graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Central Washington University graduates. ($211 vs. $214)
  • More Washington State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Washington University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 60%)

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