Washington State vs. Western Washington University

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

Washington State Western Washington University
Location Pullman, WA Bellingham, WA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 27,539 14,747
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #386 #378
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wsu.edu wwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Washington State Western Washington University
Tuition (In State) $10,708 $7,760
Tuition (Out of State) $26,392 $25,666
Room & Board $12,396 $14,691
Avg Net Price $17,911 $21,105
Avg Grant Aid $10,689 $6,522
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 91%

Admission

Washington State Western Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,401 11,864
Admitted 16,123 10,997
Acceptance Rate 83.1% 92.7%
Enrolled % 24.8% 29.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 25/30
SAT Range 1020/1210 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 Jan 31, 2025 Jan 31, 2025

Academics

Washington State Western Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Washington State Western Washington University
Graduation Rate 67% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,400 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,429 $19,413
Median Loan Payment $211 $200

Diversity

Washington State Western Washington University
% Men 46% 42%
% Women 54% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 73%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 8% 9%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Washington State Western Washington University
% In-State 83% 83%
% Out-of-State 15% 17%

Campus

Washington 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

  • Washington State University is larger than than Western Washington University based on total student enrollment (27,539 students vs. 14,747 students)

Washington State vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

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

  • Washington State University is 38% more expensive to attend than Western Washington University for in-state tuition ($10,708.00 vs. $7,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at Washington State than Western Washington University ($26,392.00 vs. $25,666.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington State University than Western Washington University ($17,911 vs. $21,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington State University are 18.5% lower than costs at Western Washington University ($12,396 vs. $14,691)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than Washington State University (91% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington State University students is 63.9% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($10,689 vs. $6,522)

Washington State vs. Western Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Washington 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 Washington State .

  • The average SAT score at Western Washington University (1114) is 75 points higher than at Washington State (1039)
  • Incoming Western Washington University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Washington State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Washington State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Western Washington University (3.46)
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Washington State (83.1%)

Washington State vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Washington 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 Washington State.

  • The graduation rate at Western Washington University is higher than Washington State University (73% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Washington State University earn on average $6,400 more per year than Western Washington University graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $48,000)
  • Western Washington University students graduate with a $1,016 lower median federal student loan debt than Washington State graduates. ($19,413 vs. $20,429)
  • Western Washington University graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Washington State graduates. ($200 vs. $211)
  • More Western Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Washington State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 71%)

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