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EWU Washington State UW-Seattle UO OSU Seattle U Gonzaga Portland State University UWB UH at Manoa UWT Colorado State| Central Washington University | Western Washington University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Central Washington University | Western Washington University | ||
| Location | Ellensburg, WA | Bellingham, WA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,257 | 14,747 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #610 | #378 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cwu.edu | wwu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Central Washington University | Western Washington University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,816 | $7,760 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,881 | $25,666 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,645 | $14,691 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,864 | $21,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,294 | $6,522 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 73% | 91% |
Admission |
Central Washington University | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,409 | 11,864 | ||
| Admitted | 5,992 | 10,997 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 93.5% | 92.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.5% | 29.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.08 | 3.46 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 930/1150 | 1130/1340 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Mar 1, 2025 | Jan 31, 2025 |
Academics |
Central Washington University | Western Washington University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Central Washington University | Western Washington University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,800 | $48,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,737 | $19,413 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $214 | $200 |
Diversity |
Central Washington University | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 14% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 9% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 9% | 1% |
Students |
Central Washington University | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 17% | ||
Campus |
Central Washington University | Western Washington University | ||
| 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
- Western Washington University is larger than than Central Washington University based on total student enrollment (14,747 students vs. 9,257 students)
Central Washington University vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or Western Washington University?
- Western Washington University is 13.8% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($7,760.00 vs. $6,816.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.5% higher at Western Washington University than Central Washington University ($25,666.00 vs. $23,881.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Washington University than Western Washington University ($15,864 vs. $21,105)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Washington University are 7.7% lower than costs at Western Washington University ($13,645 vs. $14,691)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than Central Washington University (91% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 42.5% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($9,294 vs. $6,522)
Central Washington University vs. Western Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or Western Washington University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Western Washington University or Central Washington University .
- The average SAT score at Western Washington University (1114) is 136 points higher than at Central Washington University (978)
- Incoming Western Washington University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Central Washington University (21)
- Accepted freshman Western Washington University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
- Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Western Washington University (92.7%)
Central Washington University vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Central Washington University or Western Washington University? 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 Western Washington University and Central Washington University.
- The graduation rate at Western Washington University is higher than Central Washington University (73% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Western Washington University earn on average $200 more per year than Central Washington University graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $47,800)
- Western Washington University students graduate with a $1,324 lower median federal student loan debt than Central Washington University graduates. ($19,413 vs. $20,737)
- Western Washington University graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Central Washington University graduates. ($200 vs. $214)
- More Western Washington University 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/