Western Oregon State College vs. Central Washington University

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

Western Oregon State College Central Washington University
Location Monmouth, OR Ellensburg, WA
Setting Town Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 3,857 8,796
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #865 #667
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wou.edu cwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Oregon State College Central Washington University
Tuition (In State) $9,000 $7,021
Tuition (Out of State) $28,710 $24,600
Room & Board $11,610 $16,314
Avg Net Price $15,249 $15,558
Avg Grant Aid $8,319 $8,970
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 90%

Admission

Western Oregon State College Central Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,898 6,829
Admitted 2,860 6,161
Acceptance Rate 98.7% 90.2%
Enrolled % 22.7% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.08
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 17/24
SAT Range 868/1108 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 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

Western Oregon State College Central Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

Outcomes

Western Oregon State College Central Washington University
Graduation Rate 39% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,400 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,502 $20,737
Median Loan Payment $253 $214

Diversity

Western Oregon State College Central Washington University
% Men 4% 2%
% Women 12% 3%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 59%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 14%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 2% 1%
% Two or More Races 0% 7%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 9%

Students

Western Oregon State College Central Washington University
% In-State 85% 93%
% Out-of-State 15% 6%

Campus

Western Oregon State College Central 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

  • Central Washington University is larger than than Western Oregon State College based on total student enrollment (8,796 students vs. 3,857 students)

Western Oregon State College vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison

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

  • Western Oregon University is 28.2% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($9,000.00 vs. $7,021.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.7% higher at Western Oregon State College than Central Washington University ($28,710.00 vs. $24,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Oregon University than Central Washington University ($15,249 vs. $15,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Oregon University are 40.5% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($11,610 vs. $16,314)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Western Oregon University as Central Washington University (90% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 7.8% larger than aid received Western Oregon University ($8,970 vs. $8,319)

Western Oregon State College vs. Central Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Oregon State College 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 Western Oregon State College .

  • The average SAT score at Central Washington University (978) is 32 points higher than at Western Oregon State College (946)
  • Incoming Central Washington University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Western Oregon State College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Western Oregon State College students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Central Washington University (3.08)
  • Western Oregon State College has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Central Washington University (90.2%)

Western Oregon State College vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Oregon State College 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 Western Oregon State College.

  • The graduation rate at Central Washington University is higher than Western Oregon University (56% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $6,400 more per year than Western Oregon State College graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $41,400)
  • Central Washington University students graduate with a $3,765 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Oregon State College graduates. ($20,737 vs. $24,502)
  • Central Washington University graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Western Oregon State College graduates. ($214 vs. $253)
  • More Central Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Oregon State College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

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