University of Portland vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between University of Portland 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.

University of Portland
Western Washington University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Portland Portland, OR
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • University of Portland Large City
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Portland 3,285
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • University of Portland Private 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Portland #126
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Portland Roman Catholic
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • University of Portland Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Website
  • University of Portland up.edu
  • Western Washington University wwu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • University of Portland
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Portland $58,100
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Portland $58,100
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • University of Portland $17,260
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Portland $30,985
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Portland $42,538
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Portland 100%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Portland Calculate
  • Western Washington University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Portland 8,289
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • University of Portland 7,391
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Portland 89.2%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Portland 9.6%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Portland 1270
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Portland 28
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Portland 3.66
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Portland A-
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Portland Difficult
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Portland
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Portland 25/31
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • University of Portland 1160/1370
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Portland Test optional
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Portland Jan 15, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Portland 9:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Portland
    • Health Professions (27%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Western Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Portland 76%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Portland $59,000
  • Western Washington University $48,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Portland 85%
  • Western Washington University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Portland $24,313
  • Western Washington University $19,413
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Portland $251
  • Western Washington University $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Portland 36%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • University of Portland 64%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Portland High
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Portland No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • University of Portland 61%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • University of Portland 12%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • University of Portland 1%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Portland 11%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • University of Portland 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Portland 2%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Portland 8%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • University of Portland 3%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Portland 2%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Portland 35%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Portland 63%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Portland in Portland, OR with Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Washington University is larger than University of Portland based on total student enrollment (14,710 students vs. 3,285 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Portland is located in Portland, OR (Large City setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • University of Portland is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Portland 9:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

University of Portland vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Portland 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 Western Washington University than University of Portland ($24,338 vs. $30,985).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 8.8% lower than at University of Portland ($15,747 vs. $17,260).
  • University of Portland is 506.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Washington University (about $48,518 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $9,582.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 102.4% higher at University of Portland than at Western Washington University (about $29,393 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $28,707.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Portland than at Western Washington University (100% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Portland students is 516.3% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($42,538 vs. $6,902).

University of Portland vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Portland 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 University of Portland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Portland (1270) is the same as at Western Washington University (1270).
  • Incoming University of Portland students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Western Washington University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Portland 1160/1370; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Portland 25/31; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Portland - Test optional; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Portland Jan 15, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Portland students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Western Washington University (3.46).
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than University of Portland (89.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at University of Portland vs. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

University of Portland vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Portland 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).

  • University of Portland's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Western Washington University's (73%).
  • Graduates from University of Portland earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Western Washington University graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $48,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have a $4,900 lower median loan debt than University of Portland graduates ($19,413 vs. $24,313).
  • Among borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Portland graduates ($200 vs. $251).
  • More University of Portland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Washington University students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 71%)

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.