Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsPublic

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington·Public, 4-year or above·Far West·wwu.edu
6-yr Graduation
65%
+2.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Total enrollment
14,710
peer median 10,652
Avg net price
$21,193
+$7.0k vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
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AdmissionsOutcomesProgram outcomesAccreditationCostFederal aidLoan defaultsAcademic programsEnrollment trendsAthleticsCampus safetyFacultyPeersIR OfficeCommon Data Set

Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

IPEDS
Applied
14,115
14,115 candidates competed
Admitted
13,162
93.2% acceptance rate
Enrolled
3,019
22.9% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

IPEDS
Overall completion
65%+2.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
4-year graduation
40%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
65%
Full-time retention
79%

Pell equity

10.1pp gap
Pell recipients
57%410 of 725
Non-Pell (all)
67%1603 of 2389
Subsidized loan, no Pell
61%274 of 446
No Federal Aid
68%1329 of 1943

Non-Pell students graduate at a 10.1-point higher rate than Pell recipients.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

FVT/GE

Of 117 Title IV programs, 51 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 5 fail. 61 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.

Total programs
117
Passing
51
43.6% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
5
4.3% of portfolio
Fail rate
4.3%
+3.7pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

117programs
  • Passing51 · 43.6%
  • No Data61 · 52.1%
  • Failing5 · 4.3%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
1
Recoverable
4
At Risk
2
Watch
5
Safe
44
No data
61

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

56
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-10.0%
$35,161 vs $39,073
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Bachelor Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
-2.3%
$38,163 vs $39,073
Archeology
Bachelor Degree · Social Sciences
-2.1%
$38,243 vs $39,073
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Bachelor Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
-1.6%
$38,460 vs $39,073
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-0.6%
$38,858 vs $39,073
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+3.9%
$40,616 vs $39,073
Area Studies
Bachelor Degree · Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies
+4.0%
$40,623 vs $39,073
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Other
Bachelor Degree · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
+12.4%
$43,919 vs $39,073

Near the line (±5%)

Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.

6
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Bachelor Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
-2.3%
−$910
Archeology
Bachelor Degree · Social Sciences
-2.1%
−$830
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Bachelor Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
-1.6%
−$613
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-0.6%
−$215
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+3.9%
+$1,543
Area Studies
Bachelor Degree · Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies
+4.0%
+$1,550

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

52
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
63%
$22,218 debt · $35,161 earn
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
59%
$23,097 debt · $38,858 earn
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
51%
$20,500 debt · $40,616 earn
Linguistic Comparative and Related Language Studies and Services
Bachelor Degree · Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
47%
$20,834 debt · $44,615 earn
Area Studies
Bachelor Degree · Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies
46%
$18,729 debt · $40,623 earn
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies General
Bachelor Degree · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
46%
$25,000 debt · $54,290 earn
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
44%
$35,704 debt · $80,873 earn
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Bachelor Degree · Biological And Biomedical Sciences
44%
$22,500 debt · $51,508 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

DAPIP
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Accredited since 1921Next review Apr 2031

Programmatic accreditations · 12

Action history · 10

  1. Jun 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  2. Feb 2022Initial Accreditation
    American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology · Clinical doctoral program in Audiology
  3. Feb 2022Initial Accreditation
    American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology · Clinical doctoral program in Audiology
  4. May 2020Renewal of Accreditation
    Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
  5. Feb 2020Loss of Accreditation or Preaccreditation: Voluntary Withdrawal
    Commission on English Language Program Accreditation · English Language

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

College Scorecard

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$12,915
$30–48k$14,147
$48–75k$17,539
$75–110k$24,301
$110k+$27,984

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price
$21,193
+$7,010vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs median $14,183
Federal loans
29.2%
In-state tuition
$9,582
Out-of-state
$28,707

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

Federal Student Aid

In AY 2024–25, 3,887 students received $21.6M in Pell grants, alongside $41.7M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
3,887
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$21.6M
$21,627,140 total
Direct Loans
$41.7M
7,042 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

3k
’20
3k
’21
3k
’22
3k
’23
4k
’24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$11.4M
2,810 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$12.9M
3,284 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$3.3M
212 loan awards
Parent PLUS$13.6M
705 loan awards
Grad PLUS$452K
31 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Cohort Default Rate

Of 3,009 borrowers who entered repayment, 18 (0.5%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
0.5%
-1.8pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
3,009
Defaulted
18
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
2.7%
2017
2.7%
2018
1.7%
2019
0.5%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Western Washington

Top program areas ranked by completions.

IPEDS
Distinct CIP programs139
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

2,377 total completions
01Multi/Interdisciplinary
33614.1%
02Business
33113.9%
03Social Sciences
29212.3%
04Education
26311.1%
05Psychology
24210.2%
06Health Professions
1998.4%
07Natural Resources
1898.0%
08Visual/Performing Arts
1877.9%
09Biological Sciences
1757.4%
10English Language
1636.9%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

IPEDS
Fall total
14,710
12-mo unduplicated
16,279
Undergraduate
15,170
Graduate
1,109

Gender split

Men
43%6,969
Women
57%9,310

Race / ethnicity composition

White
69.1%
Hispanic
11.3%
Two or more
8.5%
Asian
5.9%
Black
2.0%
Unknown
1.8%
Non-resident
0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.2%

Athletics & Title IX gender equity

How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.

EADA
Athletes
297
131 M · 166 W
Women athletes
55.9%
Athletic aid
$1.9M
Total student aid
Budget
$8.9M
Total expenses

Men vs women · spending splits

Athletic student aid
$754K
$1.2M
Recruiting expense
$11K
$24K
Head-coach salaries
$83K
$91K
Men Women

Sport-by-sport · 7

Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
191 M · 124 W
$1.1M
Soccer
27 M · 29 W
$1.2M
Basketball
17 M · 14 W
$2.0M
Rowing
— · 27 W
$465K
Softball
— · 21 W
$655K
Golf
11 M · 8 W
$453K

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Clery Act
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
2.53
37 offenses · 14,651 students

3-year trend

4.302 yrs ago3.531 yr ago2.53Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
154
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
56
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
4
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
2

Criminal offenses by type

Motor vehicle theft
18
Burglary
9
Rape
5
Fondling
2
Arson
1
Robbery
1
Aggravated assault
1

By location

37total
  • On campus34
  • Non-campus1
  • Public property2

Includes 9 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

3
Domestic violence
2
Dating violence
4
Stalking
9 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

  • Race1
  • Religion1

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons10
Drugs275
Liquor3100

Residence-hall fires

No residence-hall fires reported.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

IPEDS
Student-to-faculty
18.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
683

Western Washington vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Western Washington selected for federal comparison reporting.

IPEDS
GraduationRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectWestern Washington University
65%—14,710$21,193Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Eastern Washington University
43%90.7%10,492$13,886Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Central Washington University
54%90.6%10,811$18,476Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
65%90.6%6,058$12,319Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
63%82.5%4,965$10,163Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
California State University-Chico
63%92.7%15,257$14,480Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Peer group median63%90.6%10,652$14,183

Institutions like Western Washington

Explore the federal data for institutions in Western Washington's comparison group.

IPEDS

Western Washington Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Office of Institutional Effectiveness

The Fact Book is designed to inform its readers, answer the most frequently asked questions about WWU, and support institutional planning and evaluation.

Visit IR office page

Common Data Set

Western Washington's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.

Acceptance rate
96.1%
Accessible
Yield
28.3%
of admitted students enroll
Total enrollment
15,125
14,019 UG · 1,106 grad
6-yr graduation rate
67%
First-year retention
80%
Student–faculty ratio
17.8 to 1
01

Selectivity & Admissions

Admissions funnel

C1
Applied
10,580
Admitted
10,167
Enrolled
2,876

10,580 applied → 10,167 admitted (96.1%) → 2,876 enrolled.

Selectivity

C1
Acceptance rate
96.1%

Accessible — 96.1% acceptance rate.

Admit rate by gender

C1
men95.7%
women96.4%

Admit rate varies by gender.

What matters in admission

C7
Very Important2
Rigor of secondary school recordAcademic GPA
Important1
Class rank
Considered10
Standardized test scoresApplication EssayExtracurricular activitiesTalent/abilityCharacter/personal qualitiesFirst generationAlumni/ae relationRacial/ethnic statusVolunteer workWork experience
Not Considered6
Recommendation(s)InterviewGeographical residenceState residencyReligious affiliation/commitmentLevel of applicant’s interest

Relative importance of each admission factor.

02

Affordability & Value

Where grant aid comes from

H1
Total Scholarships/Grants26.8%
Total Self-Help20.0%
Student loans17.9%
State13.9%
Federal8.9%
Tuition Waivers4.8%
Institutional2.8%
State and other work-study1.5%
Parent Loans1.3%
External1.1%
Federal Work-Study0.6%
Athletic Awards0.3%

3% of need-based grant dollars come from the institution itself.

Graduate debt

H4/H5
Grads with debt
47%
Avg debt
$21,401

47% of graduates borrowed; those who did owed $21,401 on average.

03

Outcomes & Equity

Graduation & retention

B
6-yr grad rate
67%
Retention
80%

6-year graduation rate 67%; first-year retention 80%.

Equity: Pell graduation gap

B4
All students67%
Pell recipients59%

Pell-grant recipients graduate 8 pts below the overall rate (59% vs 67%).

04

Academic Experience

Class-size distribution

I3
2-9 students269
10-19 students537
20-29 students443
30-39 students179
40-49 students89
50-99 students140
100+ students35

48% of classes have under 20 students; 10% have 50+.

Faculty profile

I
Student–faculty ratio
17.8 to 1
Faculty with terminal degree
72%
Women faculty
50%

Key faculty indicators.

05

Student Body & Diversity

Undergraduate race/ethnicity

B2
White, non-Hispanic67.9%
Hispanic/Latino10.7%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic9.5%
Asian, non-Hispanic6.4%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown2.0%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic1.9%
Nonresident aliens1.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic0.4%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic0.1%

Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity.

International students

B2
International UG
140
Share
1%

1% of undergraduates are international (nonresident).

Undergrad vs graduate

B1
Undergraduate
14,01993%
Graduate
1,1067%

14,019 undergraduates and 1,106 graduate students.

06

Transfer Path

Transfer admissions

D1
Applied
2,224
Admitted
1,816
Enrolled
1,065

2,224 transfer applicants → 1,816 admitted (81.6%) → 1,065 enrolled — more selective than first-year admission.

Source publications

Frequently asked questions about Western Washington University

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Western Washington.

What is the graduation rate at Western Washington University?

Western Washington University reports a 6-year graduation rate of 65% per the latest IPEDS.

How many students attend Western Washington University?

Western Washington University reports a total enrollment of 14,710 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Western Washington University?

The average net price at Western Washington University is $21,193 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at Western Washington University?

Western Washington University's yield rate is 22.9%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is Western Washington University located?

Western Washington University is located in Bellingham, Washington 98225-9008.

Who runs Institutional Research at Western Washington University?

Western Washington University's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDS2025 provisional data (Fall 2025–26 release, July 28, 2026)
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
U.S. Department of Education
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
U.S. Department of Education
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Federal Pell Grant volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursements by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Federal student loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Federal Direct Loan recipient counts and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →

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