UW-Seattle vs. Western Washington University

Should I go to University of Washington Seattle Campus or Western Washington University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UW-Seattle 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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University of Washington Seattle Campus vs. Western Washington University comparison
University of Washington Seattle Campus Western Washington University College 3 College 4
University of Washington Seattle Campus Western Washington University
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Overview

UW-Seattle Western Washington University
Location Seattle, WA Bellingham, WA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 52,319 14,747
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #87 #378
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website washington.edu wwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UW-Seattle Western Washington University
Tuition (In State) $11,189 $7,760
Tuition (Out of State) $39,687 $25,666
Room & Board $16,068 $14,691
Avg Net Price $10,603 $21,105
Avg Grant Aid $14,731 $6,522
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 91%

Admission

UW-Seattle Western Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 52,488 11,864
Admitted 24,942 10,997
Acceptance Rate 47.5% 92.7%
Enrolled % 29.6% 29.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.46
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/33 25/30
SAT Range 1200/1453 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 16, 2024 Jan 31, 2025

Academics

UW-Seattle Western Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

UW-Seattle Western Washington University
Graduation Rate 80% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,800 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $19,413
Median Loan Payment $155 $200

Diversity

UW-Seattle Western Washington University
% Men 47% 42%
% Women 53% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 42% 73%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 9%
% International 15% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

UW-Seattle Western Washington University
% In-State 60% 83%
% Out-of-State 24% 17%

Campus

UW-Seattle Western Washington University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Washington Seattle Campus is larger than than Western Washington University based on total student enrollment (52,319 students vs. 14,747 students)

UW-Seattle vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UW-Seattle or Western Washington University?

  • University of Washington Seattle Campus is 44.2% more expensive to attend than Western Washington University for in-state tuition ($11,189.00 vs. $7,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.6% higher at UW-Seattle than Western Washington University ($39,687.00 vs. $25,666.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Washington Seattle Campus than Western Washington University ($10,603 vs. $21,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 9.4% lower than costs at University of Washington Seattle Campus ($14,691 vs. $16,068)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than University of Washington Seattle Campus (91% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Washington Seattle Campus students is 125.9% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($14,731 vs. $6,522)

UW-Seattle vs. Western Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UW-Seattle 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 UW-Seattle .

  • The average SAT score at University of Washington Seattle Campus (1258) is 144 points higher than at Western Washington University (1114)
  • Incoming UW-Seattle students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Western Washington University (25)
  • Accepted freshman UW-Seattle 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 UW-Seattle (47.5%)

UW-Seattle vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UW-Seattle 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 UW-Seattle.

  • The graduation rate at UW-Seattle is higher than Western Washington University (80% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from University of Washington Seattle Campus earn on average $17,800 more per year than Western Washington University graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $48,000)
  • University of Washington Seattle Campus students graduate with a $4,413 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Washington University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $19,413)
  • UW-Seattle graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Western Washington University graduates. ($155 vs. $200)
  • More UW-Seattle graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Washington University students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 71%)

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