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The aptly named Central Washington University (CWU) is in Ellensburg, a city in the middle of Washington state. It was founded in 1891 and is a four-year public university. The student population is comprised of both undergraduate and graduate students totaling just under 12,000. The school offers certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate degrees.


Overview of Central Washington University (CWU)


Some of the most common majors include Accounting, General Social Science, Elementary Education, Psychology, and majors in the visual and performing arts. Distance learning for students who needed a less traditional school experience is an option. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs have an almost equal number of male and female students and students have the option of staying on campus or living off campus. The option of taking classes in a traditional setting or in a blend of regular and online courses is also available, as is the option to take a program completely online.

General Information


School Type Public
Campus Setting Town: Distant
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 14:1
Graduation Rate 58%
Year Founded 1891

Student Enrollment


Total Students11,658

Undergraduate
11,111
Graduate
547

Undergraduate Student

Male 5,333
5,333
Female 5,778
5,778

Graduate Student

Male 263
263
Female 284
284

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CWU Acceptance Rate and Admissions


APPLICATIONS13,263

Male 5,395
Female 7,868

ACCEPTANCE11,406

Male 4,586
Female 6,845

Acceptance Rate86%

Male 85%
Female 87%

Enrollment 1,711

Male 823
Female 888
Admissions
Application Fee $50
High School GPA Required
High School Rank N/A
High School Transcripts Recommended
College Prep Courses Considered But Not Required
Recommendations Recommended
Formal demonstration of competencies Recommended
SAT/ACT Required
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) N/A
Other Test (Wonderlic,WISC-III,etc) Required
Application Deadline Rolling
Common Application Accepted No

CWU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


The cost of an education is a definite consideration when trying to choose the right school.

Below is the cost information for those who attend Central Washington University:

  • Tuition for in-state full-time students: $8,273
  • Tuition for out-of-state full-time students: $23,954
  • Room and board for students who live on campus: $12,637
  • Total cost of tuition and room and board: $20,910 in-state - $36,591 out-of-state

Eighty-eight percent of students who attend Central Washington University receive some form of financial aid. Fifty-eight percent of students take out student loans to cover the costs of tuition and room and board, while 81% students receive Pell grants, scholarships, and other forms of aid. Once the scholarship and grant funds have applied to the cost, students are left with an average net cost of $16,014. This amount is the total a student is required to cover once all financial aid has been applied to tuition, room and board, and other costs. The majority of students use student loans to cover the difference.

Average net price 2018-2019
Net Price $16,014
Average Total Aid $7,503
Students Receiving Financial Aid 88%
Room & Board $12,637

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $8,273
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $23,954
  • Books and Supplies - $900
  • Room & Board - $12,637
  • Other - $2,922

Academics


Here are some statistics regarding the academics at Central Washington University:

  • Retention Rate
    Central Washington University has a 71% retention rate. This means that out of every 100 incoming freshmen, 71 students return for their sophomore year. This is an excellent rate of retention, higher than the national average.
  • Graduation Rate
    Seventy-four percent of Central Washington students graduate within six years. Some students finish sooner (64% finish in four years) and others need longer than six years to complete their degree. But a graduation rate of 74% is an indication that the majority of students not only graduate, but they do so within a reasonable time frame.
  • Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
    This ratio means that there are 16 students to each instructor. This means the classes are a decent size without being too large for everyone to participate, and instructors have more opportunities for one-on-one assistance if needed. You can get to know your fellow students as well as your instructors.

Decent class sizes and a healthy retention and graduation rate means that students at Central Washington can have a great educational experience.

Student Population Total


Student Population 11,658

Undergraduate
11,111
Graduate
547
Evening Classes : No
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


All Business Majors 650 Total Graduates / 25%
Accounting 123 Graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other 107 Graduates
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 83 Graduates
Business Administration and Management, General 72 Graduates
All Social Sciences Majors 253 Total Graduates / 10%
Social Sciences, General 108 Graduates
Sociology, General 51 Graduates
Political Science and Government, General 34 Graduates
Anthropology, General 24 Graduates
All Education Majors 215 Total Graduates / 8%
Elementary Education and Teaching 99 Graduates
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 22 Graduates
Mathematics Teacher Education 20 Graduates
Music Teacher Education 13 Graduates
All Psychology Majors 186 Total Graduates / 7%
Psychology, General 186 Graduates
All Visual and Performing Arts Majors 157 Total Graduates / 6%
Cinematography and Film/Video Production 38 Graduates
Graphic Design 27 Graduates
Music Performance, General 16 Graduates
iFne/Studio Arts, General 15 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 43%

Outcome & Salary


Central Washington University graduates make an average early salary of $54,000 and, by their mid careers, are making around $94,200. This means that the average 10-year projected salary for a graduate is $690,300. With a net price of $64,000 for their entire education, this means students can expect a healthy return on their investment.

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $54,000
College Grads Average Salary $69,030
College Grads Mid Career Salary $94,200
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $690,300
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,632,300
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $64,056
10 Year Projected ROI $626,244
20 Year Projected ROI $1,568,244
No College Education Salary Comparison
National Average Salary $38,792
10 Year Projected Income $387,920
20 Year Projected Income $775,840

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