Central Washington University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Ellensburg, WA

$6,475

Avg in-state tuition

$22,551

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About Central Washington University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Central Washington University is a medium-sized public university located on a rural campus in Ellensburg, Washington. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 10,518, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 86%. The university offers 197 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 58%, and a student-faculty ratio of 20:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $6,475, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $22,551.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

86% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

70% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

58% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Recommended

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Considered (not required)

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Not required or recommended

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 17-24

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 930-1150

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of between 5,000 and 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

11k

Students enrolled

97%

Online student enrollment

20:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

51%

Hispanic

18%

Unknown

10%

Two or more races

9%

Asian

5%

Black

4%

Non-U.S. Citizen

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

1%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

1%

Female student population

54%

Socio-economic diversity

36% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

54

Total Online Enrollment

10,833

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

82% On-campus

18% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates Check Bold 19% online

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 14% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 50% online

Master's Check Bold 26% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $6,475 $22,551
Graduate $9,822 $23,007

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $900
On-campus room and board $13,787
On-campus other expenses $2,922
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $9,276
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $2,922
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $2,922

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $24,084 $40,160
Off-campus without family $19,573 $35,649
Off-campus with family $10,297 $26,373

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

36%

State Grant Aid

33%

Institution Grant Aid

65%

Pell Grant

36%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $4,910
State Grant Aid $6,362
Institution Grant Aid $3,425
Pell Grant Aid $4,678

Financial Outlook

$20k

Average student debt after graduation

$39k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division II with football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Other Sports
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.