Central Washington University vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between Central Washington University and Western Washington University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Central Washington University
Western Washington University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • Central Washington University Distant Town
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Central Washington University 10,811
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • Central Washington University Public 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central Washington University #621
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central Washington University -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • Central Washington University Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Website
  • Central Washington University cwu.edu
  • Western Washington University wwu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Central Washington University
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central Washington University $9,417
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central Washington University $27,526
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • Central Washington University $16,480
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • Central Washington University $19,898
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central Washington University $8,816
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central Washington University 85%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Central Washington University Calculate
  • Western Washington University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Central Washington University 8,919
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • Central Washington University 8,082
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central Washington University 90.6%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Central Washington University 20%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central Washington University 1040
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central Washington University 20
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central Washington University 3.08
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central Washington University B
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central Washington University Very Easy
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central Washington University
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • Central Washington University 17/24
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Central Washington University 930/1150
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central Washington University Test-free
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central Washington University 15:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central Washington University
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Western Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central Washington University $47,800
  • Western Washington University $48,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central Washington University 60%
  • Western Washington University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central Washington University $20,737
  • Western Washington University $19,413
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central Washington University $214
  • Western Washington University $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central Washington University 44%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central Washington University Medium
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Central Washington University No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • Central Washington University 59%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central Washington University 14%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central Washington University 7%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • Central Washington University 3%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central Washington University 9%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central Washington University 94%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central Washington University 6%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA with Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Washington University is larger than Central Washington University based on total student enrollment (14,710 students vs. 10,811 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, WA (Distant Town setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • Central Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Washington University 15:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

Central Washington University vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or Western Washington University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Washington University than Western Washington University ($19,898 vs. $24,338).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 4.4% lower than at Central Washington University ($15,747 vs. $16,480).
  • Western Washington University is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central Washington University (about $165 more per year; $9,582.00 vs. $9,417.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Western Washington University than at Central Washington University (about $1,181 more per year; $28,707.00 vs. $27,526.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Washington University than at Central Washington University (93% vs. 85%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($8,816 vs. $6,902).

Central Washington University vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or Western Washington University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Western Washington University and Central Washington University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Washington University (1270) is 230 points higher than at Central Washington University (1040).
  • Incoming Western Washington University students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 20 at Central Washington University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Washington University 930/1150; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Washington University 17/24; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central Washington University - Test-free; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Western Washington University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Central Washington University (3.08).
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than Central Washington University (90.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20% at Central Washington University vs. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

Central Washington University vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Washington University and Western Washington University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Western Washington University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Central Washington University's (56%).
  • Graduates from Western Washington University earn a median of about $200 more per year than Central Washington University graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have a $1,324 lower median loan debt than Central Washington University graduates ($19,413 vs. $20,737).
  • Among borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central Washington University graduates ($200 vs. $214).
  • More Western Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Washington University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.