Mississippi State vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between Mississippi State University and Western Washington University? 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.

Mississippi State University
Western Washington University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mississippi State Mississippi State, MS
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • Mississippi State Rural Fringe
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mississippi State 23,150
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • Mississippi State Public 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mississippi State #489
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mississippi State -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • Mississippi State Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mississippi State
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mississippi State $10,202
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mississippi State $27,637
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • Mississippi State $12,902
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • Mississippi State $18,478
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mississippi State $13,852
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mississippi State 96%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mississippi State 23,346
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • Mississippi State 18,125
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mississippi State 77.6%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Mississippi State 19.8%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mississippi State 1230
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mississippi State 25
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mississippi State 3.58
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mississippi State A-
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mississippi State Difficult
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mississippi State
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • Mississippi State 21/29
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Mississippi State 1100/1350
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mississippi State Test optional
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mississippi State Aug 1, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mississippi State 16:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mississippi State
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Western Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mississippi State 60%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mississippi State $47,500
  • Western Washington University $48,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mississippi State 63%
  • Western Washington University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mississippi State $23,250
  • Western Washington University $19,413
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mississippi State $240
  • Western Washington University $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mississippi State 48%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • Mississippi State 52%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mississippi State Low
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Mississippi State No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • Mississippi State 72%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • Mississippi State 1%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • Mississippi State 20%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mississippi State 2%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • Mississippi State 1%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mississippi State 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mississippi State 2%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • Mississippi State 1%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mississippi State 1%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mississippi State 56%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mississippi State 43%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, MS with Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mississippi State University is larger than Western Washington University based on total student enrollment (23,150 students vs. 14,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mississippi State University is located in Mississippi State, MS (Rural Fringe setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • Mississippi State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mississippi State University 16:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

Mississippi State vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mississippi State or Western Washington University? 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 Mississippi State University than Western Washington University ($18,478 vs. $24,338).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 18.1% lower than at Western Washington University ($12,902 vs. $15,747).
  • Mississippi State University is 6.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Washington University (about $620 more per year; $10,202.00 vs. $9,582.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Western Washington University than at Mississippi State University (about $1,070 more per year; $28,707.00 vs. $27,637.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mississippi State University than at Western Washington University (96% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 100.7% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($13,852 vs. $6,902).

Mississippi State vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mississippi State or Western Washington University? 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 Western Washington University and Mississippi State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Washington University (1270) is 40 points higher than at Mississippi State (1230).
  • Incoming Western Washington University students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Mississippi State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mississippi State University 1100/1350; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mississippi State University 21/29; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mississippi State - Test optional; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mississippi State Aug 1, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Western Washington University (3.46).
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than Mississippi State (77.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.8% at Mississippi State vs. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

Mississippi State vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mississippi State and Western Washington University? 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).

  • Western Washington University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Mississippi State University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Western Washington University earn a median of about $500 more per year than Mississippi State graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have a $3,837 lower median loan debt than Mississippi State graduates ($19,413 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mississippi State graduates ($200 vs. $240).
  • More Western Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mississippi State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 63%)

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.