Washington State vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between Washington State 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.

Washington State University
Western Washington University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Washington State Pullman, WA
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • Washington State Distant Town
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Washington State 25,685
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • Washington State Public 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Washington State #404
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Washington State -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • Washington State Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Website
  • Washington State wsu.edu
  • Western Washington University wwu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Washington State
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Washington State $13,391
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Washington State $29,950
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • Washington State $13,622
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • Washington State $18,171
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Washington State $10,886
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Washington State 83%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Washington State 25,462
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • Washington State 22,060
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Washington State 86.6%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Washington State 19.7%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Washington State 1120
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Washington State 23
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Washington State 3.5
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Washington State B+
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Washington State Moderate
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Washington State
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • Washington State 20/26
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Washington State 1020/1210
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Washington State Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Western Washington University Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Washington State Jan 31, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Washington State 40%
  • Western Washington University 38%
  • % Women
  • Washington State 60%
  • Western Washington University 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Washington State Medium
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Washington State No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • Washington State 63%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • Washington State 5%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • Washington State 3%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Washington State 13%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • Washington State 1%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Washington State 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Washington State 8%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • Washington State 5%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Washington State 2%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Washington State 84%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Washington State 14%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Washington State University is larger than Western Washington University based on total student enrollment (25,685 students vs. 14,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Washington State vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Washington State 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 Washington State University than Western Washington University ($18,171 vs. $24,338).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington State University are 13.5% lower than at Western Washington University ($13,622 vs. $15,747).
  • Washington State University is 39.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Washington University (about $3,809 more per year; $13,391.00 vs. $9,582.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Washington State than at Western Washington University (about $1,243 more per year; $29,950.00 vs. $28,707.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Washington University than at Washington State University (93% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington State University students is 57.7% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($10,886 vs. $6,902).

Washington State vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Washington University (1270) is 150 points higher than at Washington State (1120).
  • Incoming Western Washington University students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 23 at Washington State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington State University 1020/1210; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington State University 20/26; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Washington State - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Western Washington University - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Washington State Jan 31, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • 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 (93.2%) than Washington State (86.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at Washington State vs. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

Washington State vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Washington State 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 Washington State University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Washington State University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Western Washington University graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,400 vs. $48,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have a $1,016 lower median loan debt than Washington State graduates ($19,413 vs. $20,429).
  • Among borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.