Western Washington University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Bellingham, Washington. It enrolls 13,544 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
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes63
Value60
Affordability33
Selectivity43
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 93.3%, Western Washington University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
93.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1150 – 1390
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Western Washington University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Western 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 $21,193 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,193
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
29%
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)
$9,582
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$28,707
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,747
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,747
Books & Supplies
$1,224
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,722
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,722
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,359
Application fee: $70 (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
$12,915
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,147
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,539
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,301
Over $110,000
$27,984
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.
$3,66610%percentile
$7,00025%percentile
$18,500Medianpercentile
$24,42475%percentile
$30,43890%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 $14,065
↓ $4,435
No Pell $13,000
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $13,000
↓ $5,500
Independent students $16,728
↓ $1,772
Female students $13,728
↓ $4,772
Male students $13,090
↓ $5,410
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($18,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
66% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Washington University graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
66%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Washington University earn a median of $62,569 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,569
Earning > $25K
83%
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
$43,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$60,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$47,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$53,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,400, about 27% 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 ↑
12.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western Washington University is home to 13,544 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
13,544
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 69.1%9,364
Hispanic 11.3%1,532
Other 9.2%1,251
Asian 5.9%792
Black 2.0%265
International 0.7%92
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Washington University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityBellingham, Washington
Housing
Partly residential4,196 beds available
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Western Washington University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
95 distinct programs across
22 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 Western Washington University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,564
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$115M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$102,159
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
686 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
243
35%
$131,423
Associate Professors
204
30%
$102,701
Assistant Professors
105
15%
$81,833
Instructors
134
20%
$63,325
Pros & Cons of Western Washington University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Washington University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Western Washington University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Washington University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Washington University.
Is Western Washington University hard to get into?
Western Washington University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 93.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Washington University?
Western Washington University has an acceptance rate of 93.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Western Washington University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Western Washington University scored between 1150 and 1390 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Western Washington University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Western Washington University scored between 24 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Western Washington University cost?
The average net price after aid at Western Washington University is $21,193 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Washington University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,569 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,193 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western Washington University known for?
Western Washington University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western Washington University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Washington University are $62,569, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western Washington University accredited?
Yes. Western Washington University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Western Washington University?
Western Washington University enrolls 13,544 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western Washington University?
Western Washington University graduates 66% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western Washington University a public or private college?
Western Washington University is a Public institution.
Where is Western Washington University located?
Western Washington University is located in Bellingham, Washington.
What programs does Western Washington University offer?
Western Washington University offers 95 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Washington University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western 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.
Information Systems
Experimental Psychology
Computer Science
Related Guides
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
How to find the colleges that deliver the strongest return on a STEM degree by weighing earnings outcomes against net cost, rather than chasing the most selective name.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
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
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
