Education
Ranked #56 of 521 for valueTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas · 69 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $63,072
- Ranked-college median: $48,822
- Median debt
- $19,758
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Western Washington University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 93.3% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 10,167 of 10,580 applicants were admitted. Middle 50% test scores: SAT Reading & Writing 590–710, SAT Math 560–680, ACT 24–31. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 13,544
Larger than 93% of colleges
National median 1,603
Western Washington UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
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Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where Western Washington University sits for you.
Take the fit quizAdmissions
Western Washington University admitted 93.3% of 10,580 applicants.
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Applicants10,580
93.3% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted10,167
27.7% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)2,813
Middle 50% test scores
- SAT Reading & Writing
- 590–710
- 200800
- SAT Math
- 560–680
- 200800
- ACT Composite
- 24–31
- 136
Your chances
Check your chancesYour SAT or ACT against Western Washington University- SAT, middle 50%
- 1150–1390
- ACT, middle 50%
- 24–31
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$19,963
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- In-state tuition & fees
- $9,924
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $29,091
- Average net price
- $19,963
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 26.6%
Free tools
Plan your costs for Western Washington University
- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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Aid & Loan Plan$14 once
A PDF that applies the 2026–27 federal aid rules to you and up to three colleges: Pell Grant, loan limits, the gap left and repayment.
Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
60.8%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
79.4%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$64,305
Former students who received federal aid
Where Western Washington University ranks
- #56Best colleges for educationof 521 ranked
- #124Best colleges for marketingof 354 ranked
- #154Best colleges for financeof 330 ranked
Programs at Western Washington University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Western Washington University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Marketing
Ranked #124 of 354 for valueMarketing · 95 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $69,323
- Ranked-college median: $67,486
- Median debt
- $15,000
- Ranked-college median: $19,523
Finance
Ranked #154 of 330 for valueFinance and Financial Management Services · 35 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $75,730
- Ranked-college median: $77,916
- Median debt
- $13,750
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Accounting
Ranked #158 of 408 for valueAccounting and Related Services · 49 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $82,246
- Ranked-college median: $76,108
- Median debt
- $19,166
- Ranked-college median: $20,500
Communications
Ranked #174 of 388 for valueCommunication and Media Studies · 101 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $56,415
- Ranked-college median: $56,130
- Median debt
- $16,157
- Ranked-college median: $19,593
Computer science
Ranked #176 of 466 for valueComputer and Information Sciences, General · 113 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $110,138
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $18,106
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Business
Ranked #187 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 66 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $71,886
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $17,500
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Mathematics
Ranked #205 of 208 for valueMathematics · 28 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,234
- Ranked-college median: $71,273
Psychology
Ranked #210 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 234 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $53,224
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $15,833
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Economics
Ranked #236 of 243 for valueEconomics · 49 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $64,123
- Ranked-college median: $83,880
- Median debt
- $18,417
- Ranked-college median: $18,500
Kinesiology and exercise science
Ranked #333 of 459 for valueSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 43 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $50,079
- Ranked-college median: $53,707
- Median debt
- $21,315
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Political science
Ranked #356 of 388 for valuePolitical Science and Government · 83 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $49,640
- Ranked-college median: $63,181
- Median debt
- $16,444
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Biology
Ranked #577 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 56 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $50,027
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $20,580
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
13,544
Academic calendar
Quarter
Carnegie classification
Master's university
A College or University that also has a large number of Master’s Degree programs.
Colleges like Western Washington University
Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA
Washington State UniversityPullman, WA
Eastern Washington UniversityCheney, WA
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA, United States
- Public
- Master's university
Small city
Inside an urbanized area and a principal city.
- City (this campus)
- Suburb
- Town
- Rural
Nearest major citySeattle, WA · about 78 mi
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Quarter
- Website
- wwu.edu
Colleges nearby
Bellingham Technical College2 mi from Western Washington University- Whatcom Community College4 mi from Western Washington University
- Northwest Indian College7 mi from Western Washington University
Skagit Valley College22 mi from Western Washington University
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Western Washington University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $19,963 a year after aid
Athletics
NCAA Division II · Competitive sports with partial scholarships and smaller programs.
- D-INCAA Division I
- D-IINCAA Division II (this college)
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Western Washington University and Central Washington University, side by side.
Compare with Central Washington UniversityFrequently asked questions
What is the Western Washington University acceptance rate for 2026?
Western Washington University admitted 93.3% of 10,580 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Western Washington University tuition?
In-state tuition at Western Washington University is $9,924 and out-of-state tuition is $29,091 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $19,963 a year.
What is the average net price at Western Washington University?
The average net price at Western Washington University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $19,963 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Western Washington University?
60.8% of first-time, full-time students at Western Washington University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Western Washington University?
The closest matches are Central Washington University, Washington State University, and Eastern Washington University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
