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Idaho Central Washington University Boise State UW-Seattle Portland State University UO OSU UWB EWU Gonzaga Seattle U MSU| Washington State University | Western Washington University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Washington State | Western Washington University | ||
| Location | Pullman, WA | Bellingham, WA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 26,490 | 14,651 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #385 | #364 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wsu.edu | wwu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Washington State | Western Washington University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,976 | $7,997 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,052 | $26,564 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,131 | $14,915 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,155 | $22,096 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,370 | $7,041 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 93% |
Admission |
Washington State | Western Washington University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 26,166 | 14,243 | ||
| Admitted | 22,335 | 13,005 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.4% | 91.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19% | 24.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.46 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1210 | 1110/1350 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 31, 2026 |
Academics |
Washington State | Western Washington University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 17:1 | ||
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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 | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 4% | ||
| 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% | 16% | ||
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 (26,490 students vs. 14,651 students)
Washington State vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Washington State or Western Washington University?
- Washington State University is 37.3% more expensive to attend than Western Washington University for in-state tuition ($10,976.00 vs. $7,997.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.8% higher at Washington State than Western Washington University ($27,052.00 vs. $26,564.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington State University than Western Washington University ($18,155 vs. $22,096)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington State University are 13.6% lower than costs at Western Washington University ($13,131 vs. $14,915)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than Washington State University (93% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Washington State University students is 47.3% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($10,370 vs. $7,041)
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 (91.3%) than Washington State (85.4%)
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/