San Diego State vs. Western Washington University

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

San Diego State Western Washington University
Location San Diego, CA Bellingham, WA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 37,402 14,747
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #337 #378
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sdsu.edu wwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

San Diego State Western Washington University
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $7,760
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $25,666
Room & Board $19,714 $14,691
Avg Net Price $13,017 $21,105
Avg Grant Aid $9,934 $6,522
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 91%

Admission

San Diego State Western Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 77,250 11,864
Admitted 30,331 10,997
Acceptance Rate 39.3% 92.7%
Enrolled % 21.7% 29.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.46
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 22/29 25/30
SAT Range 1090/1300 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 Nov 30, 2024 Jan 31, 2025

Academics

San Diego State Western Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 25:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

San Diego State Western Washington University
Graduation Rate 66% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,400 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,349 $19,413
Median Loan Payment $158 $200

Diversity

San Diego State Western Washington University
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 34% 73%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 31% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 9%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

San Diego State Western Washington University
% In-State 77% 83%
% Out-of-State 21% 17%

Campus

San Diego State 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

  • San Diego State University is larger than than Western Washington University based on total student enrollment (37,402 students vs. 14,747 students)

San Diego State vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or Western Washington University?

  • Western Washington University is 35.1% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($7,760.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.6% higher at Western Washington University than San Diego State University ($25,666.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than Western Washington University ($13,017 vs. $21,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 34.2% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($14,691 vs. $19,714)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than San Diego State University (91% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego State University students is 52.3% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($9,934 vs. $6,522)

San Diego State vs. Western Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego State 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 San Diego State .

  • The average SAT score at San Diego State University (1130) is 16 points higher than at Western Washington University (1114)
  • Incoming San Diego State students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Western Washington University (25)
  • Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Western Washington University (3.46)
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than San Diego State (39.3%)

San Diego State vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, San Diego State 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 San Diego State.

  • The graduation rate at Western Washington University is higher than San Diego State University (73% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from San Diego State University earn on average $5,400 more per year than Western Washington University graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $48,000)
  • San Diego State University students graduate with a $4,064 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Washington University graduates. ($15,349 vs. $19,413)
  • San Diego State graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than Western Washington University graduates. ($158 vs. $200)
  • More Western Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 65%)

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