Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
CU Boulder CU Denver EWU Washington State MSU OSU UCCS Western Washington University UO DU Colorado School of Mines University of Northern Colorado| Colorado State University Fort Collins | Central Washington University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Colorado State | Central Washington University | ||
| Location | Fort Collins, CO | Ellensburg, WA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 33,403 | 9,257 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #359 | #610 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colostate.edu | cwu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Colorado State | Central Washington University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,218 | $6,816 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,078 | $23,881 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,728 | $13,645 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,926 | $15,864 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,727 | $9,294 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 73% |
Admission |
Colorado State | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 33,122 | 6,409 | ||
| Admitted | 30,066 | 5,992 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.8% | 93.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.5% | 23.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.08 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1290 | 930/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 1, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Colorado State | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Colorado State | Central Washington University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,800 | $47,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,004 | $20,737 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $217 | $214 |
Diversity |
Colorado State | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 9% |
Students |
Colorado State | Central Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 5% | ||
Campus |
Colorado State | Central 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
- Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than Central Washington University based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 9,257 students)
Colorado State vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or Central Washington University?
- Colorado State University Fort Collins is 49.9% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $6,816.00)
- Out of state tuition is 25.9% higher at Colorado State than Central Washington University ($30,078.00 vs. $23,881.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Washington University than Colorado State ($15,864 vs. $16,926)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Washington University are 0.6% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($13,645 vs. $13,728)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Colorado State University Fort Collins than Central Washington University (74% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 15.4% larger than aid received Central Washington University ($10,727 vs. $9,294)
Colorado State vs. Central Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State or Central Washington University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central Washington University or Colorado State .
- The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 167 points higher than at Central Washington University (978)
- Incoming Colorado State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Central Washington University (21)
- Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
- Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Colorado State (90.8%)
Colorado State vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Colorado State or Central 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 Central Washington University and Colorado State.
- The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than Central Washington University (64% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn on average $4,000 more per year than Central Washington University graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $47,800)
- Central Washington University students graduate with a $267 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado State graduates. ($20,737 vs. $21,004)
- Central Washington University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado State graduates. ($214 vs. $217)
- More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Washington University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/