Quad

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WAQuad's selectivityOpen
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Central Washington admits about 9 in 10 applicants (91%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 21% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

91%

91%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

8,919

Admitted

8,082

Yield

20%

of admits enroll

Applications +116% since fall 2014 · admit rate 86% → 91%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,833 undergrads, where 28% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

7.8K

undergrads · larger than 86% of colleges

Diversity index

0.63

Pell Grant

28%

below the median

First generation

40%

above the median

Distant townNCAA D-II · Great Northwest Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.59 → 0.63 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (12% of graduates). 15 students for every faculty member, more than at 66% of colleges. 65% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,278 a year on instruction per student.

15 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 66% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

12% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians

$97.9K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

65%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$11.3K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $24,215 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), about the national median. The 85% who received grants paid $19,898 on average; the other 15% paid the full sticker price of $30,438 in-state / $48,017 out-of-state.

24%

$24.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · about the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$30,438 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 24% of full price

Federal loans

31%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · +4% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $61,580 ten years after enrolling, more than at 71% of colleges; 62% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

62%

62%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$61.6K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$19.5K

≈ $207/month for 10 years

Retention

70%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 53% → 54% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 3% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 116% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 86% to 91%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +4% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +116%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 86% → 91%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.59 → 0.63

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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Northern Arizona University

90% admit · 22.9K undergrads

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Washington State University

87% admit · 21.1K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Central Washington University (2026)

    Central Washington University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 234827 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything