Quad

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WAQuad's selectivityAccessiblefrom WashingtonOpenfrom other states
Known forTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 23–31 (fall 2024: 24–31)Western Washington University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2027 applicants: Test scores recommended (fall 2024: Test-optional)Western Washington University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 79.2% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 79.4%)Western Washington University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Western Washington University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Western Washington University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Western Washington University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Western Washington admits about 9 in 10 applicants (93%). That puts it in the "Accessible in-state, Open out of state" tier, more selective than 16% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

93%

93%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessiblefrom WashingtonOpenfrom other states

Applied

14,115

Admitted

13,162

Yield

23%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.42

SAT middle 50%

1150–1390

10001600
ACT middle 50%

23–31

1836
Applications +52% since fall 2014 · admit rate 85% → 93%Over time

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

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 13,544 undergrads, where 21% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

13.5K

undergrads · larger than 92% of colleges

Diversity index

0.50

Pell Grant

21%

below the median

First generation

27%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-II · Great Northwest Athletic ConferenceStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.43 → 0.50 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (8% of graduates). 18 students for every faculty member, more than at 83% of colleges. 71% of faculty are full-time. Spends $13,138 a year on instruction per student.

18 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 83% of colleges

Most popular major

Psychology, General

8% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$110.1K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

71%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$13.1K

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 $26,506 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $2.2K more than the national median. The 93% who received grants paid $24,338 on average; the other 7% paid the full sticker price of $29,967 in-state / $48,534 out-of-state.

20%

$26.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $2.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$29,967 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 20% of full price

Federal loans

29%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −0% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $62,569 ten years after enrolling, more than at 73% of colleges; 71% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.7 years of that salary.

71%

71%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$62.6K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$18.5K

≈ $196/month for 10 years

Retention

79%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 72% → 65% 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 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 52% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 85% to 93%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    0% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +52%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 85% → 93%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.43 → 0.50

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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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; 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
    Western Washington University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Western Washington University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

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

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

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

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

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

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

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

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

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

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

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

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

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

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

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

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

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

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

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

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

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

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

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

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

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

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

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

  19. 19
    Western Washington University (2026)

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

IPEDS unit ID 237011 · 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