Western Washington University

www.wwu.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$7,997

3.05% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$22,096

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

91.3%

14,243 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

14,651

88.8% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

65.5%

2,013 Graduates

About

Western Washington University is a higher education institution located in Whatcom County, WA. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Washington University were General Psychology (240 degrees awarded), General Computer & Information Sciences (128 degrees), and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (128 degrees).

In 2023, 3,729 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Washington University. 59.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 40.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,593 degrees), 7.32 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, two or more races (354 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Washington University is $7,997, which is $−16,578 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Washington University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 2,897 total borrowers.

Photo by domjisch

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Washington University is $7,997, which is $16,578 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $22,096.

In 2023, 59% of undergraduate students attending Western Washington University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 28% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$7,997

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Western Washington University was $7,997. The cost of tuition at Western Washington University is $−16,578 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Western Washington University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$22,096

2023 Value

4.7%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Western Washington University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $22,096. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Western Washington University grew by 4.7%.

This chart compares the average net price of Western Washington University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$14,691

Room and Board

$1,086

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Washington University was of $14,691 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 12.3% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,086. The cost of books and supplies increased by 7.42% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Western Washington University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

59%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

28%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

59% of undergraduate students at Western Washington University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 3.28% with respect to 2022, when 61% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Western Washington University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Washington University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 2897 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Western Washington University received 14,243 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 20.1% annual growth. Out of those 14,243 applicants, 13,005 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 91.3% acceptance rate.

There were 14,651 students enrolled at Western Washington University in 2023. 9% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Washington University has an overall enrollment yield of 24.5%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

91.3%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

13,005

Accepted Out of 14,243

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Washington University was 91.3% (13,005 admissions from 14,243 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 92.7%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 20.1%, while admissions grew by 18.3%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Washington University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

Submission Percentage (2023)

284

Scores Submitted (2023)

9% of enrolled first-time students at Western Washington University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Washington University had a total enrollment of 14,651 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Western Washington University is 13,009 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,642. This means that 88.8% of students enrolled at Western Washington University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Washington University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 68.7% White, 10.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.86% Two or More Races, 5.73% Asian, 1.92% Black or African American, 0.382% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.205% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Washington University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (40%), followed by White Male (28.7%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (6.86%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (41.3%), followed by White Male (26.7%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.58%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

88.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Washington University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 14,651 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Washington University is 13,009 and the part-time enrollment is 1,642. This means that 88.8% of students enrolled at Western Washington University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.2% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Western Washington University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

80%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Western Washington University was 80%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), Western Washington University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Western Washington University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
10,071 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,602 enrolled students
Two or More Races
1,298 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Washington University is 68.7% White, 10.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.86% Two or More Races, 5.73% Asian, 1.92% Black or African American, 0.382% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.205% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 50.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 298 students (2.03%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 707 more women than men received degrees from Western Washington University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Western Washington University is white (2,593 degrees awarded). There were 7.32 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, two or more races (354 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Washington University is General Psychology (240 degrees awarded), followed by General Computer & Information Sciences (128 degrees) and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (128 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Western Washington University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Natural Resources & Conservation (247 degrees awarded), English (213 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (98 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Other managers (203,757 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (203,192 people), Postsecondary teachers (202,657 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (190,690 people), and Secondary school teachers (169,139 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Washington University in 2023 are Natural Resources & Conservation (247 degrees awarded), English (213 degrees), Language & Linguistics (98 degrees), History (91 degrees), and Physical Sciences (124 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Diagnostic medical sonographers

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Diagnostic medical sonographers, Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Natural Resources & Conservation (247 degrees awarded), English (213 degrees), Language & Linguistics (98 degrees), History (91 degrees), and Physical Sciences (124 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Elementary & secondary schools (566,312 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (413,049 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (224,076 people), Computer Systems Design (181,550 people), and Legal services (171,445 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Western Washington University.

Most Common (2023)

General Psychology
240 degrees awarded
General Computer & Information Sciences
128 degrees awarded
Other Multidisciplinary Studies
128 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Washington University was General Psychology with 240 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Western Washington University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,511

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

2,218

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 1,511 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University, which is 0.681 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,218).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Western Washington University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 133 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University in General Computer & Information Sciences, which is 6.65 times more than the 20 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 181 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University in General Psychology, which is 3.07 times more than the 59 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

43%

100% Completion Time

68%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 43% of students graduating from Western Washington University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 68% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 69% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (69.8%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Western Washington University is Female and White (69.8% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.99% of graduates (40 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
2,593 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
354 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
348 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Washington University is white (2,593 degrees awarded). There were 7.32 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, two or more races (354 degrees).

2.15% of degree recipients (80 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
1,537 degrees awarded
White Male
1,056 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
227 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Washington University is white female (1,537 degrees awarded). There were 1.46 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,056 degrees).

Operations

Western Washington University has an endowment valued at nearly $115M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 3.65M (3.17%) compared to the 5.72% average return (2.84M on 49.7M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2023, Western Washington University had a total salary expenditure of 380M. Western Washington University employs 243 Professors, 204 Associate professors and 131 Instructors. Most academics at Western Washington University are Male Professor (146), Male Associate professor (107), and Female Professor (97).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Washington University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 422 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 173 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 166 employees.

Endowment

$115M

2023 Endowment

20.6%

growth from 2022

Western Washington University has an endowment valued at about $115M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Washington University grew 20.6% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $65.4M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Western Washington University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$10.1M - Federal
$27.6M - State
$665k - Local

As of 2023, Western Washington University received $10.1M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $27.6M from state grants and contracts, and $665k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$185M

2023 Salaries

5.44%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Western Washington University paid a median of $185M in salaries, which represents 48.7% of their overall expenditure ($380M) and a 5.44% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 7.27% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.77% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 36.1M (39.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$71M

Instructional Salaries

683

Number of Employees

In 2023, Western Washington University paid a total of $71M to 683 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.12M (2.97%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

243 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

422 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Washington University were Professor with 243 employees, Associate professor with 204 employees, and Instructor with 131 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Washington University were Office and Administrative Support with 422 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 173 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 166 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Washington University was Male Professor with 146 employees, Male Associate professor with 107 employees, and Female Professor with 97 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Western Washington University.

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