UNK vs. Central Washington University

Should I go to University of Nebraska at Kearney or Central Washington University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UNK 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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University of Nebraska at Kearney vs. Central Washington University comparison
University of Nebraska at Kearney Central Washington University College 3 College 4
University of Nebraska at Kearney Central Washington University
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Overview

UNK Central Washington University
Location Kearney, NE Ellensburg, WA
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 6,017 8,796
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #574 #667
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unk.edu cwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNK Central Washington University
Tuition (In State) $6,450 $7,021
Tuition (Out of State) $12,418 $24,600
Room & Board $11,936 $16,314
Avg Net Price $16,249 $15,558
Avg Grant Aid $8,779 $8,970
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 90%

Admission

UNK Central Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,253 6,829
Admitted 6,222 6,161
Acceptance Rate 85.8% 90.2%
Enrolled % 14.6% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.08
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 17/24
SAT Range 970/1150 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 15, 2026 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

UNK Central Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

Outcomes

UNK Central Washington University
Graduation Rate 61% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,400 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,250 $20,737
Median Loan Payment $219 $214

Diversity

UNK Central Washington University
% Men 8% 2%
% Women 22% 3%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 79% 59%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 14%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 9%

Students

UNK Central Washington University
% In-State 86% 93%
% Out-of-State 9% 6%

Campus

UNK 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 UNK based on total student enrollment (8,796 students vs. 6,017 students)

UNK vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNK or Central Washington University?

  • Central Washington University is 8.9% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($7,021.00 vs. $6,450.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 98.1% higher at Central Washington University than University of Nebraska at Kearney ($24,600.00 vs. $12,418.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Washington University than UNK ($15,558 vs. $16,249)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska at Kearney are 36.7% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($11,936 vs. $16,314)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central Washington University than University of Nebraska at Kearney (90% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 2.2% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($8,970 vs. $8,779)

UNK vs. Central Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNK 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 UNK .

  • The average SAT score at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1049) is 71 points higher than at Central Washington University (978)
  • Incoming UNK students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Central Washington University (21)
  • Accepted freshman UNK students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
  • Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than UNK (85.8%)

UNK vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNK 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 UNK.

  • The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Central Washington University (61% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $4,400 more per year than UNK graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $43,400)
  • Central Washington University students graduate with a $513 lower median federal student loan debt than UNK graduates. ($20,737 vs. $21,250)
  • Central Washington University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than UNK graduates. ($214 vs. $219)
  • More UNK 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/