Western Washington University

www.wwu.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition
$8,240
3.04% growth from 2023
2024 Average Net Price
$24,338
After Financial Aid
2022 Default Rate
0.0416%
on Student Loans
2024 Acceptance Rate
93.2%
14,115 Applicants
2024 Enrolled Students
14,710
89.1% Full-Time
2024 Graduation Rate
64.6%
2,013 Graduates

About

Western Washington University is a higher education institution located in Whatcom County, WA. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Washington University were General Psychology (234 degrees awarded), Creative Writing (127 degrees), and Sociology (114 degrees).

In 2024, 3,463 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Washington University. 61% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 39% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,412 degrees), 6.26 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (385 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Washington University is $8,240, which is $−17,048 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($25,288).

In 2022 the default rate for borrower's at Western Washington University was 0.0416%, corresponding to 1 out of the 2,406 total borrowers.

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Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMasters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Washington University is $8,240, which is $17,048 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($25,288).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $24,338.

In 2024, 58% of undergraduate students attending Western Washington University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 29% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$8,240
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Western Washington University was $8,240. The cost of tuition at Western Washington University is $−17,048 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($25,288).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Western Washington University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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Average Net Price

$24,338
2024 Value
10.1%
1 Year Growth

In 2024 Western Washington University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $24,338. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Western Washington University grew by 10.1%.

This chart compares the average net price of Western Washington University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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Other Student Expenses

$15,894
Room and Board
$1,176
Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Washington University was of $15,894 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 8.19% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,176. The cost of books and supplies increased by 8.29% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Western Washington University (in red) with that of similar universities.

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Financial Aid by Income Level

58%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
29%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

58% of undergraduate students at Western Washington University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 1.69% with respect to 2023, when 59% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Western Washington University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.
0.0416%
2022 Default Rate
1
Number of Defaults

In 2022 the default rate for borrower's at Western Washington University was 0.0416%, which represents 1 out of the 2406 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

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Admissions

Western Washington University received 14,115 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 0.899% annual growth. Out of those 14,115 applicants, 13,162 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 93.2% acceptance rate.

There were 14,710 students enrolled at Western Washington University in 2024. 9% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Washington University has an overall enrollment yield of 22.9%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

93.2%
Acceptance Rate in 2024
13,162
Accepted Out of 14,115

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Washington University was 93.2% (13,162 admissions from 14,115 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 91.3%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 0.899%, while admissions grew by 1.21%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Washington University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

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SAT Scores

9%
Submission Percentage (2024)
257
Scores Submitted (2024)

9% of enrolled first-time students at Western Washington University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

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Enrollment

Western Washington University had a total enrollment of 14,710 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Western Washington University is 13,112 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,598. This means that 89.1% of students enrolled at Western Washington University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Washington University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 68.6% White, 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.25% Two or More Races, 5.74% Asian, 1.88% Black or African American, 0.551% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.245% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Washington University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (40%), followed by White Male (29%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (6.89%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (41.6%), followed by White Male (26.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.35%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

89.1%
Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Washington University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 14,710 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Washington University is 13,112 and the part-time enrollment is 1,598. This means that 89.1% of students enrolled at Western Washington University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.6% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Western Washington University (in red) compares to similar universities.

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Retention Rate over Time

79%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Western Washington University was 79%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), Western Washington University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Western Washington University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
  1. White
    10,094 enrolled students
  2. Hispanic or Latino
    1,641 enrolled students
  3. Two or More Races
    1,213 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Washington University is 68.6% White, 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.25% Two or More Races, 5.74% Asian, 1.88% Black or African American, 0.551% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.245% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 48.8% White, 18.2% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.7% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 352 students (2.39%) did not report their race.

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Graduates

In 2024, 763 more women than men received degrees from Western Washington University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Western Washington University is white (2,412 degrees awarded). There were 6.26 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (385 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Washington University is General Psychology (234 degrees awarded), followed by Creative Writing (127 degrees) and Sociology (114 degrees).

In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at Western Washington University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Natural Resources & Conservation (199 degrees awarded), English (201 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (90 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers
Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Other managers (210,905 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (203,336 people), Postsecondary teachers (199,444 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (198,076 people), and Secondary school teachers (171,115 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Washington University in 2024 are Natural Resources & Conservation (199 degrees awarded), English (201 degrees), Language & Linguistics (90 degrees), Physical Sciences (134 degrees), and History (78 degrees) (as of 2024).

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Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons
Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Physicians, and Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists

The most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Natural Resources & Conservation (199 degrees awarded), English (201 degrees), Language & Linguistics (90 degrees), Physical Sciences (134 degrees), and History (78 degrees) (as of 2024).

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Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools
Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Elementary & secondary schools (513,702 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (406,504 people), Computer Systems Design (172,737 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (164,657 people), and Legal services (164,650 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Natural Resources & Conservation (199 degrees awarded), English (201 degrees), Language & Linguistics (90 degrees), Physical Sciences (134 degrees), and History (78 degrees) (as of 2024).

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Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Western Washington University.
Most Common (2024)
  1. General Psychology
    234 degrees awarded
  2. Creative Writing
    127 degrees awarded
  3. Sociology
    114 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Washington University was General Psychology with 234 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Western Washington University according to their major.

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Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,350
Degrees Awarded to Men
in 2024
2,113
Degrees Awarded to Women
in 2024

In 2024, 1,350 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University, which is 0.639 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,113).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Western Washington University by degrees awarded.

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Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 107 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University in General Computer & Information Sciences, which is 3.57 times more than the 30 female recipients with that same degree.

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Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 179 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University in General Psychology, which is 3.25 times more than the 55 male recipients with that same degree.

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Time to Complete

42%
100% Completion Time
65%
150% Completion Time

In 2024, 42% of students graduating from Western Washington University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 65% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 67% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.
Asian Female
Highest Graduation Rate (75.6%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Western Washington University is Female and Asian (75.6% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

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Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
  1. White
    2,412 degrees awarded
  2. Hispanic or Latino
    385 degrees awarded
  3. Two or More Races
    281 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Washington University is white (2,412 degrees awarded). There were 6.26 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (385 degrees).

2.25% of degree recipients (78 students) did not report their race.

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Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
  1. White Female
    1,464 degrees awarded
  2. White Male
    948 degrees awarded
  3. Hispanic or Latino Female
    270 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Washington University is white female (1,464 degrees awarded). There were 1.54 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (948 degrees).

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Operations

Western Washington University has an endowment valued at nearly $126M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 5.69M (4.52%) compared to the 9.96% average return (5.41M on 54.3M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2024, Western Washington University had a total salary expenditure of 385M. Western Washington University employs 227 Professors, 189 Associate professors and 136 Instructors. Most academics at Western Washington University are Male Professor (134), Male Associate professor (99), and Female Professor (93).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Washington University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 457 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 173 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 169 employees.

Endowment

$126M
2024 Endowment
9.43%
growth from 2023

Western Washington University has an endowment valued at about $126M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Washington University grew 9.43% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $71.7M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Western Washington University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

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Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts
  1. $10.4M - Federal
  2. $28.3M - State
  3. $899k - Local

As of 2024, Western Washington University received $10.4M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $28.3M from state grants and contracts, and $899k from local grants and contracts.

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Salary Expenditure

$196M
2024 Salaries
0%
growth from 2023

In 2024, Western Washington University paid a median of $196M in salaries, which represents 50.7% of their overall expenditure ($385M) and a 0% growth from the previous year.

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Instructional Salaries

$72.9M
Instructional Salaries
678
Number of Employees

In 2024, Western Washington University paid a total of $72.9M to 678 employees working as instructors, which represents 37.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.15M (2.91%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

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Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Washington University were Office and Administrative Support with 457 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 173 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 169 employees.

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