Match #1
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA
Profile closeness84/100
Admit rate91%
- 7,833 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Acceptance rate 91%, close to 93%
- Average net price $21,201, close to $19,963
The colleges most similar to Western Washington University are Central Washington University, Washington State University, and Eastern Washington University. Western Washington University admits 93% of applicants and has an average net price of $19,963 a year; 6 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 1 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Western Washington University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Western Washington University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate87%
- 21,099 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 63%, close to 61%
- Acceptance rate 87%, close to 93%
Match #3
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA
Profile closeness70/100
Admit rate91%
- 6,222 students
- Public
- Town: Fringe
- Acceptance rate 91%, close to 93%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #4
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, WA
Profile closeness52/100
Admit rate96%
- 2,160 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Acceptance rate 96%, close to 93%
- Same control type (public)
Match #5
Green River College
Auburn, WA
Profile closeness51/100
Admit rate—
- 4,965 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Average net price $18,821, close to $19,963
- Same control type (public)
Match #6
Bellevue College-Washington
Bellevue, WA
Profile closeness48/100
Admit rate—
- 7,364 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Average net price $18,271, close to $19,963
- Same control type (public)
Match #7
University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus
Seattle, WA
Profile closeness43/100
Admit rate39%
- 31,942 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Columbia Basin College
Pasco, WA
Profile closeness39/100
Admit rate—
- 4,640 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Same control type (public)
Match #9
North Seattle College
Seattle, WA
Profile closeness37/100
Admit rate—
- 3,074 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Average net price $21,037, close to $19,963
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA
Profile closeness36/100
Admit rate—
- 2,406 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Same control type (public)
Questions about Western Washington University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Western Washington University?
The closest matches to Western Washington University are Central Washington University, Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, and Green River College. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Western Washington University hard to get into?
Western Washington University admitted 93% of its 10,580 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 1 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Western Washington University alternatives cost less?
6 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Western Washington University ($19,963 a year), including Washington State University ($13,462), Eastern Washington University ($13,647), and University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus ($13,663). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
