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Eastern Washington University (EWU) is a public institution located in Cheney, Washington. Established in 1882, it is one of the most diverse college campuses in the Pacific Northwest. The campus is situated on 300 acres of gorgeous, golden, rolling hills and basalt outcroppings. Boasting small-town charm with a big-city lifestyle, there are plenty of nearby rivers, urban parks, nature spots, and downtown markets.


Overview of Eastern Washington University (EWU)


The school is dedicated to expanding opportunities for personal transformation through excellence in learning. It strives to enhance access to higher education by recruiting and supporting traditional and non-traditional students, as well as underserved populations. In fact, Eastern Washington University received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in 2019. Academic programs also undergo regular, rigorous review to ensure the intellectual, cultural, personal, and practical aspects of students’ lives are enhanced. Graduates are capable of thinking critically and have the knowledge and skills necessary to make meaningful contributions to their career fields and the world.

The student population is approximately 12,349, with about 10,292 enrolled in undergraduate programs. Eastern Washington University also employs 444 full-time and 136 part-time faculty members, all of whom provide instructional services. The student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1, which means students can receive one-on-one attention and assistance from professors, though classes might be larger than in some other school environments. Additional instructional and research support is provided by roughly 100 graduate assistants.

General Information


School Type Public
Campus Setting Town: Fringe
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 18:1
Graduation Rate 54%
Year Founded 1882

Student Enrollment


Total Students12,410

Undergraduate
10,756
Graduate
1,654

Undergraduate Student

Male 4,840
4,840
Female 5,916
5,916

Graduate Student

Male 744
744
Female 910
910

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EWU Acceptance Rate and Admissions


APPLICATIONS5,297

Male 2,105
Female 3,192

ACCEPTANCE5,085

Male 2,000
Female 3,064

Acceptance Rate96%

Male 95%
Female 96%

Enrollment 1,831

Male 734
Female 1,097
Admissions
Application Fee $60
High School GPA Required
High School Rank N/A
High School Transcripts Required
College Prep Program Required
Recommendations N/A
SAT/ACT Required
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Required
Application Deadline May 15
Common Application Accepted No

EWU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


Eastern Washington University has the lowest in-state tuition and fees of any public university in Washington. The school offers substantial academic experience at affordable rates. Cost does vary, however, depending on residency and the type of degree program selected.

Washington residents enrolled full-time pay $6,713 in tuition per semester. Non-residents, on the other hand, must pay $24,685 in tuition per year. All students should also expect to pay $1,007 in university fees, as well as approximately $930 for books. Housing and meals is another important consideration. The school does offer room and board plans for $13,026 per academic year.

It’s worth noting that Eastern Washington University is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). This program allows students in certain states outside of Washington to pay lower tuition rates. Participating can lower costs by more than $14,000 each year.

Acceptable WUE states and locations include:

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Wyoming
  • Guam
  • Mariana Islands
  • Federal States of Micronesia

Eastern Washington University awards approximately $5.5 million in scholarships every year. It also utilizes an additional $140 million in financial aid to ensure students have access to affordable degree options. Those who meet the minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement of 2.80 should complete the annual scholarship application; incoming students must also apply for admission by the priority deadline for the best chance at receiving additional aid. The school also offers grants, loans, and work-study opportunities that can be obtained by completing the FAFSA. In total, 96% of new students receive some type of financial assistance. While 90% are awarded grants and/or scholarships, 51% still require the use of student loans.

Average net price 2018-2019
Net Price $12,764
Average Total Aid $7,286
Students Receiving Financial Aid 96%
Room & Board $12,405

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $7,526
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $25,057
  • Books and Supplies - $900
  • Room & Board - $12,405
  • Other - $2,700

Academics


Eastern Washington University offers more than 60 fields of study in a learning environment that is personal, collaborative, and dynamic. The school also believes that learning does not only happen at a desk and encourages students to use what they have learned to study abroad, participate in internships, and volunteer.

Students can choose to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, with both in-person and online learning options available. Programs range from film to geosciences.

All majors are categorized into the institution’s four colleges:

  • Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
  • Health Science & Public Health
  • Professional Programs
  • Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

The retention rate for first-time, full-time, undergraduate freshmen who began their studies in 2019 was 71%. This is well above the national average retention rate of 68%. Part-time bachelor’s students had a retention rate that was lower, however, totaling at only 35%. Even so, these numbers indicate that the majority of students enrolled at the university were happy with their first-year experience.

Eastern Washington University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The institution also has specialized accreditation for single programs.

The following includes some of the majors that are accredited by professional accrediting organization in their disciplines:

  • Addiction Studies
  • Business
  • Counseling Education
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Education
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • School Psychology
  • Therapeutic Recreation
  • Urban and Regional Planning

Student Population Total


Student Population 12,410

Undergraduate
10,756
Graduate
1,654
Evening Classes : Yes
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


All Business Majors 464 Total Graduates / 20%
Business Administration and Management, General 162 Graduates
Accounting 82 Graduates
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 76 Graduates
Finance, General 69 Graduates
All Education Majors 213 Total Graduates / 9%
Elementary Education and Teaching 37 Graduates
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 25 Graduates
Mathematics Teacher Education 21 Graduates
English/Language Arts Teacher Education 21 Graduates
All Biological & Biomedical Majors 212 Total Graduates / 9%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 106 Graduates
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 106 Graduates
All Social Sciences Majors 194 Total Graduates / 8%
Criminology 88 Graduates
Political Science and Government, General 38 Graduates
Sociology, General 26 Graduates
Economics, General 19 Graduates
All Psychology Majors 183 Total Graduates / 8%
Psychology, General 117 Graduates
Developmental and Child Psychology 65 Graduates
Health/Medical Psychology 1 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 46%

Outcome & Salary


The overall graduation rate at Eastern Washington University is 53%, with an unknown transfer-out rate. Of those seeking bachelor’s degrees who enrolled full-time in fall 2014, 26% completed their degree programs within four years. This number is much higher after six years, with 51% of students achieving graduate status after that time.

Notably, most Eastern Washington University graduates find employment. In total, 78% of the spring 2021 graduating class reported working full-time, with another 17% working part-time. Of those that responded, 42% said their jobs were very related to their majors, 29% said their jobs were somewhat related to their majors, and 29% said their jobs were unrelated to their majors. Additionally, 63% of respondents said they found employment prior to graduating from Eastern Washington University.

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $52,000
College Grads Average Salary $63,188
College Grads Mid Career Salary $84,600
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $631,880
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,477,880
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $51,056
10 Year Projected ROI $580,824
20 Year Projected ROI $1,426,824
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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