Western Washington University vs. UWT

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

Western Washington University UWT
Location Bellingham, WA Tacoma, WA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 14,651 4,777
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #364
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wwu.edu washington.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Washington University UWT
Tuition (In State) $7,997 $11,524
Tuition (Out of State) $26,564 $40,878
Room & Board $14,915 $15,948
Avg Net Price $22,096 $11,290
Avg Grant Aid $7,041 $13,521
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 77%

Admission

Western Washington University UWT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,243 3,161
Admitted 13,005 2,622
Acceptance Rate 91.3% 82.9%
Enrolled % 24.5% 25.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.41
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 16/24
SAT Range 1110/1350 960/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 31, 2026 Jun 30, 2026

Academics

Western Washington University UWT
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • General Studies (48%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Western Washington University UWT
% Men 2% 6%
% Women 4% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 73% 43%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 8% 12%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 9% 8%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

Western Washington University UWT
% In-State 83% 96%
% Out-of-State 16% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Washington University is larger than than UWT based on total student enrollment (14,651 students vs. 4,777 students)

Western Washington University vs. UWT Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Washington Tacoma Campus is 44.1% more expensive to attend than Western Washington University for in-state tuition ($11,524.00 vs. $7,997.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53.9% higher at UWT than Western Washington University ($40,878.00 vs. $26,564.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Washington Tacoma Campus than Western Washington University ($11,290 vs. $22,096)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 6.9% lower than costs at University of Washington Tacoma Campus ($14,915 vs. $15,948)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Washington University than University of Washington Tacoma Campus (93% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Washington Tacoma Campus students is 92% larger than aid received Western Washington University ($13,521 vs. $7,041)

Western Washington University vs. UWT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Washington University or UWT? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UWT or Western Washington University .

  • The average SAT score at Western Washington University (1114) is 148 points higher than at UWT (966)
  • Incoming Western Washington University students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UWT (19)
  • Accepted freshman Western Washington University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at UWT (3.41)
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than UWT (82.9%)

Western Washington University vs. UWT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Washington University or UWT? 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 UWT and Western Washington University.

  • Graduates from University of Washington Tacoma 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 Tacoma Campus students graduate with a $4,413 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Washington University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $19,413)
  • UWT graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Western Washington University graduates. ($155 vs. $200)
  • More UWT 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/