Central Washington University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Ellensburg, Washington. It enrolls 7,833 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes33
Value70
Affordability48
Selectivity20
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 90.6%, Central Washington University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
90.6%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Central Washington University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Central Washington University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,476 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,476
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
31%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,417
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$27,526
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,480
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,480
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,925
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,925
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,816
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,846
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,942
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,022
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,682
Over $110,000
$26,719
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,00025%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$32,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,689
↓ $4,811
No Pell $12,000
↓ $7,500
Dependent students $12,102
↓ $7,398
Independent students $17,428
↓ $2,072
Female students $13,000
↓ $6,500
Male students $13,083
↓ $6,417
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,303, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
57% of full-time students who enrolled at Central Washington University graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
57%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Central Washington University earn a median of $61,580 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$61,580
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$47,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,800, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Central Washington University is home to 7,833 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
7,833
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 55.5%4,347
Hispanic 23.0%1,803
Other 9.6%754
Black 4.7%370
Asian 4.3%337
International 2.0%160
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Central Washington University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantEllensburg, Washington
Housing
Mostly residential4,249 beds on campus
Adult Learners
20%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Central Washington University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
95 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Washington University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$13,430
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$51M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$87,394
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
425 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
162
38%
$110,348
Associate Professors
83
20%
$93,147
Assistant Professors
52
12%
$78,295
Lecturers
128
30%
$55,853
Pros & Cons of Central Washington University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central Washington University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Central Washington University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Central Washington University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central Washington University.
Is Central Washington University hard to get into?
Central Washington University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Central Washington University?
Central Washington University has an acceptance rate of 90.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Central Washington University cost?
The average net price after aid at Central Washington University is $18,476 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central Washington University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,580 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,476 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central Washington University known for?
Central Washington University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Central Washington University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Central Washington University are $61,580, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Central Washington University accredited?
Yes. Central Washington University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Central Washington University?
Central Washington University enrolls 7,833 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Central Washington University?
Central Washington University graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Central Washington University a public or private college?
Central Washington University is a Public institution.
Where is Central Washington University located?
Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, Washington.
What programs does Central Washington University offer?
Central Washington University offers 95 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central Washington University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Washington University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Washington
Other colleges in Washington share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
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Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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College outcomes
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