Lewis-Clark State College vs. Central Washington University

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

Lewis-Clark State College Central Washington University
Location Lewiston, ID Ellensburg, WA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 3,746 9,257
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #969 #610
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lcsc.edu cwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lewis-Clark State College Central Washington University
Tuition (In State) $6,999 $6,816
Tuition (Out of State) $20,252 $23,881
Room & Board $8,460 $13,645
Avg Net Price $11,476 $15,864
Avg Grant Aid $6,555 $9,294
% Receiving Grant Aid 88% 73%

Admission

Lewis-Clark State College Central Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,938 6,409
Admitted 3,417 5,992
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 93.5%
Enrolled % 14.5% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.08
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 850/1110 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 Aug 8, 2025 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Lewis-Clark State College Central Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Human Services (7%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (6%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

Outcomes

Lewis-Clark State College Central Washington University
Graduation Rate 28% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,000 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,944 $20,737
Median Loan Payment $226 $214

Diversity

Lewis-Clark State College Central Washington University
% Men 37% 47%
% Women 63% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 59%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 14%
% Native American 3% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 9%

Students

Lewis-Clark State College Central Washington University
% In-State 85% 95%
% Out-of-State 13% 5%

Campus

Lewis-Clark State College 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

  • Central Washington University is larger than than Lewis-Clark State College based on total student enrollment (9,257 students vs. 3,746 students)

Lewis-Clark State College vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lewis-Clark State College or Central Washington University?

  • Lewis Clark State College is 2.7% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($6,999.00 vs. $6,816.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.9% higher at Central Washington University than Lewis Clark State College ($23,881.00 vs. $20,252.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lewis Clark State College than Central Washington University ($11,476 vs. $15,864)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lewis Clark State College are 61.3% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($8,460 vs. $13,645)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lewis Clark State College than Central Washington University (88% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 41.8% larger than aid received Lewis Clark State College ($9,294 vs. $6,555)

Lewis-Clark State College vs. Central Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lewis-Clark State College 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 Lewis-Clark State College .

  • The average SAT score at Central Washington University (978) is 39 points higher than at Lewis-Clark State College (939)
  • Incoming Lewis-Clark State College students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Central Washington University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Lewis-Clark State College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
  • Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Lewis-Clark State College (86.8%)

Lewis-Clark State College vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lewis-Clark State College 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 Lewis-Clark State College.

  • The graduation rate at Central Washington University is higher than Lewis Clark State College (56% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Lewis-Clark State College graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $38,000)
  • Central Washington University students graduate with a $1,207 lower median federal student loan debt than Lewis-Clark State College graduates. ($20,737 vs. $21,944)
  • Central Washington University graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Lewis-Clark State College graduates. ($214 vs. $226)
  • More Central Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lewis-Clark State College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 55%)

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