Western Washington University 

School Name and Address

Contact for more information

	Western Washington University
	516 High Street
	Bellingham, WA 98225
Main telephone	360.650.3000
Website	https://www.wwu.edu/
Virtual campus tour	https://admissions.wwu.edu/files/interactive-tour.html
Request more information	https://apply.wwu.edu/register/?id=6995ff33-33a5-4294-8d64-c14f64671dc6
Other sites	A variety of degree and certificate programs are offered at extended education locations throughout Western Washington: https://ee.wwu.edu/degree-programs-courses

General Information 

General information

Public or private	Public
Type of school	University
Date founded	1893
Degrees offered	Certificate or diploma, Bachelor's, Master's, Other advanced degrees
School accreditation	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Specialized accreditation	Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, American Speech-Language Association, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Council on Rehabilitation Education, American Chemical Society, SOPHE/AAHE Baccalaureate Program Approval Committee (SABPAC), National Association of Schools or Art and Design, National Association of Schools of Music, Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions, Planning Accreditation Board, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act eligible training provider	Some programs; see program descriptions
School mascot	Vikings

School setting

Setting	Small town-rural area (not within commuting distance of a large city)
Closest major metropolitan area	Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC Canada
Population of city the school is in	80,055
Distance from campus to city center	Three miles
Public transportation to campus	http://www.wwu.edu/transportation/
Student parking on campus	http://www.wwu.edu/parking/
Campus size	223 acres
County	Whatcom

School visits

Visitor information website	http://admissions.wwu.edu/visit/
School visit availability	We offer prospective and admitted students and their families twice daily weekday and Saturday tours as well as day-long Saturday events in the fall and spring.
Contact to set up school visit	Jo Golden, Assistant Director of Admissions; 360-650-2494 Jo.Golden@wwu.edu

Additional information

The university has received national recognition for its commitment to student-faculty collaboration in the teaching and learning process, for providing outstanding access to academic technology, and for the exceptionally high degree of attention students receive from faculty. Undergraduate research in sciences and the humanities is encouraged as is community service and service learning.

Student Body

Enrollment

Number of full time, freshmen men	1,270
Number of full time, freshmen women	1,847
Total number of full time freshmen	3,117
Number of part time, freshmen men	13
Number of part time, freshmen women	17
Total number of part time freshmen	30
Total number of freshmen men	1,283
Total number of freshmen women	1,864
Total number of freshmen	3,147
Number of full time, undergraduate men	5,891
Number of full time, undergraduate women	8,002
Total number of full time undergraduates	13,893
Number of part time, undergraduate men	655
Number of part time, undergraduate women	622
Total number of part time undergraduates	1,277
Total number of undergraduate males	6,546
Total number of undergraduate females	8,624
Total number of undergraduate students	15,170
Total enrollment	15,170

Racial-ethnic background of undergraduate students

American Indian/Alaskan Native	Less than 1%
Asian	6%
Black	1%
Hispanic	9%
Multiracial	8%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	Less than 1%
White	70%
Race/ethnicity unknown	1%
These figures reflect responses of people who chose to indicate their racial-ethnic background. All categories except Hispanic represent non-Hispanic students. International students are not included in these figures so they may not add up to 100 percent.

Out-of-state students

Percentage of students from out of state	14%
Number of states and territories represented	48

International students

Percentage of students from outside the US	1%
Number of countries represented	42

Age of students

Percentage of students 25 or older

8%

Costs 

Annual costs for full-time undergraduate students
(Costs are for the 2019-2020 academic year. Full-time costs are based on 45 credits per year.)

In-state tuition	$6,543
Out-of-state tuition	$22,890
Fees	$2,080
Books and supplies	$954
Room and board (live on campus)*	$12,037
Board and transportation (live with parents)	$4,956
* Room and board costs may vary by housing facility and number of meals in meal plan
Cost information website	https://admissions.wwu.edu/tuition-expenses
Other costs (on campus) are personal and miscellaneous - $2,373. Fees include a $280 one-time enrollment confirmation fee.

Tuition rates vary by

Campus/location

Class load (number of credits taken)

Degree level (e.g., certificate, associate, bachelor's)

Tuition refund policy

For information, see https://catalog.wwu.edu/content.php?catoid=15&navoid=3370#refunding

Tuition waivers available to

School employees and their children

Senior citizens

Veterans

School employees (but not their children). Restrictions apply to all tuition waivers.

Financial Aid 

Contact for counseling or more information

Financial Aid Office
Associate Director of Financial Aid, Systems
financialaid@wwu.edu
360.650.4088
Financial aid office website	http://www.finaid.wwu.edu/
Scholarship list website	http://www.finaid.wwu.edu/scholarships/

Applying for financial aid

Submit these forms	FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Other requirements	Students who are ineligible for federal financial aid due to immigration status and who meet individual program, income, or residency requirements for the State Need Grant, the College Bound Scholarship, State Work Study, or Passport Scholarship should complete the free WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) to apply for state financial aid. http://www.readysetgrad.org/wasfa
Application deadline (for fall term)	January 31

Financial aid awarded to undergraduates
(Financial aid data are for the 2018-2019 academic year.)

Average financial aid package awarded to freshmen	$16,516
For freshmen, percentage of need* met by aid package	96%
Average amount of financial aid awarded to freshmen
Loan	$3,431
Scholarship or grant	$9,150
Work study	$2,905
Average financial aid package awarded to undergraduates (including freshmen)	$16,294
For all undergraduates, percentage of need* met by aid package	93%
Average amount of financial aid awarded to undergraduates
Loan	$4,595
Scholarship or grant	$9,577
Work study	$4,388
* "Need" as defined for financial aid results from a formula based on a student's situation. The formula considers family and student income, family size, unusual expenses, and the school's costs.

Who received financial aid

Number of freshmen who applied for aid	2,691
Number of freshmen who received aid	1,636
Number of undergraduates who applied for aid	9,585
Number of undergraduates who received aid	6,761

Loans

Percentage of students who took out loans to pay for school	44%
Average student loan debt for last graduating class	$11,907

Financial aid programs at this school

Loans

Federal PLUS loans (for parents)

Federal Stafford loans (subsidized)

Federal Stafford loans (unsubsidized)

Institution loans (from the school)

Need-based scholarships and grants

Federal Pell Grants

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Privately-sponsored scholarships and grants

School-sponsored scholarships and grants

State-sponsored scholarships and grants

Merit-based scholarships and grants

Academic Competitiveness Grant

HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) scholarships

School-sponsored scholarships in academics

School-sponsored scholarships in art

School-sponsored scholarships in special achievements

School-sponsored scholarships for special characteristics

Student employment

Work study

Veteran's benefits

Veteran's benefits, such as the GI Bill, are honored

Other

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

Admissions 

Contact for more information

Cezar Mesquita
Director of Admissions
Cezar.Mesquita@wwu.edu
Jeanne Gaffney
Associate Director of Admissions
Jeanne.Gaffney@wwu.edu
Jess Savage
Associate Director of Admissions/Recruitment
Jess.Savage@wwu.edu
360.650.4350
Admissions office website	http://admissions.wwu.edu/
Electronic application website	http://admissions.wwu.edu/apply/

Entrance difficulty

For incoming students

Moderately difficult (about 85% of all applicants accepted)

Last year's applicants

Number of male applicants	4,380
Number of male applicants accepted	3,757
Number of male applicants who enrolled	1,283
Number of female applicants	6,744
Number of female applicants accepted	5,994
Number of female applicants who enrolled	1,864
Total number of applicants	11,124
Total number of applicants accepted	9,751
Total number of applicants who enrolled	3,147

Education required for admission

High school education

High school diploma required and GED accepted.

Application dates

Admission is available	Fall, winter, and spring quarter
Fall* application deadline	January 31
Notification date for fall admission applicants	Continuous
Early action (apply early, but not required to attend if accepted) application deadline	November 1
Notification date for early action applicants	Prior to December 31
Number who applied for early action	4,043
Number who were admitted via early action	3,851
Fall transfer application deadline	March 1
Notification date for fall transfer applicants	Continuous
* Application dates for winter, spring, or summer term admission are likely to be different.

Application requirements

Online application available	http://admissions.wwu.edu/apply/
Application fee	$60
Application fee waived	By request for applicants with demonstrated financial need
Submit these items:
Application	Required for all students
High school transcript or GED certificate	Required for all students
Written essay or personal statement	Recommended, but not required

Exams

Required exams

SAT or ACT

Factors considered by schools when evaluating applicants

High school GPA	Important
Difficulty of high school courses	Very important
Standardized test scores	Important
High school class rank	Considered
Recommendations	Considered
Application essay	Important
Character/personal qualities	Considered
Interview	Not considered
Talent or ability	Considered
Extracurricular activities	Considered
Level of applicant's interest	Important
Religious affiliation/commitment	Not considered
Work experience	Considered
Related to a school graduate	Considered
First generation college student	Considered
Racial/ethnic group	Not considered

Other admissions information

Accepted students can defer admission for a period of time

School uses a waiting list

Transfer student admissions

Admission requirements	A complete application includes an application for admission and official transcripts for all attempted college coursework. A high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores are required only for transfer applicants with fewer than 45 earned college credits. (Test requirements waived for students 21 and older regardless of number of earned credits.)
Age limit on courses to be transferred	No limit

Credits accepted for transfer students

American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations

Military service

Test scores of freshmen who enrolled at the school

SAT evidence-based reading and writing
400 - 499	8%
500 - 599	38%
600 - 699	44%
700 - 800	10%
Average SAT evidence-based reading and writing score	599
SAT math
400 - 499	11%
500 - 599	49%
600 - 699	33%
700 - 800	7%
Average SAT math score	580
ACT score
Under 12	0%
12 - 17	4%
18 - 23	33%
24 - 29	43%
30 - 36	20%
Average ACT score	25

High school performance of students who enrolled at this school

Average GPA (on 4.0 scale)	3.46
Percentage in top 50% of their high school class	86%
Percentage in top 25%	56%
Percentage in top 10%	24%

Undergraduate retention and graduation

Percentage of freshmen who returned for their sophomore year	81%
Percentage of full-time students who complete their bachelor's degree:
In four years or less	38%
Between four and five years	25%
Between five and six years	4%

Academics 

Degrees offered

Certificate or diploma

Bachelor's

Master's

Doctorate

Other advanced degrees

School catalog

School catalog website	https://catalog.wwu.edu/
Academic index website	https://www.wwu.edu/majors

Faculty and instruction

Academic calendar	Quarters
Number of faculty on campus	949
Student faculty ratio	18.4:1

Graduation requirements

Required number of credits for a bachelor's degree	180 quarter hours
All students must meet:
Core curriculum or school-wide requirements
Internship requirement	Depends on major
Math or science requirement
Senior project requirement	Depends on major
Students must complete a minimum of three "Writing Proficiency" points in addition to completing general university requirements

Attendance options

On-line/distance learning

Part time

Summer school

Optional academic programs

Accelerated degree

Double major

Freshman honors college

Graduate courses open to undergraduates

Honors program

Student-designed major

Off-campus study

Domestic exchange available
At these US schools or through this program	National Student Exchange
Study abroad available
In these countries	https://wwu-sa.terradotta.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Abroad.Home

Alternative credit opportunities

Advanced Placement

Challenge for course credit

Cooperative education

External degree program (earn credits through options that require little or no classroom attendance)

Independent study

International Baccalaureate

Internships

Service learning programs

Cambridge International Exams

Computing

Computers on campus for student use

Computer lab available to students

Computer network can be accessed from dorm rooms

Computer network can be accessed from off campus

Discount computer purchase plan available

Online registration for classes

Libraries

Main library name

Wilson Library

Other special programs

Western Washington University also offers training through their Continuing Education courses. See https://oce.wwu.edu/  for current offerings.

Sports 

Intercollegiate and intramural sports available

	Intercollegiate				Intramural
Sport	Men		Women		Men	Women
Baseball	Club
Basketball	Div 2	$	Div 2	$	Yes	Yes
Climbing	Club		Club
Crew			Div 2	$
Cross-country running	Div 2	$	Div 2	$
Cycling	Club		Club
Dodgeball					Yes	Yes
Equestrian sports	Club		Club
Fencing					Yes
Field hockey						Yes
Flag football					Yes	Yes
Football					Yes	Yes
Golf	Div 2	$	Div 1	$
Ice hockey	Club		Club
Ice skating	Club		Club
Kickball					Yes	Yes
Lacrosse	Club		Club
Racquetball					Yes	Yes
Rock climbing					Yes	Yes
Rugby	Club		Club
Sailing	Club		Club
Skiing (downhill)					Yes	Yes
Snow boarding	Club		Club
Soccer	Div 2	$	Div 2	$	Yes	Yes
Softball			Div 2	$	Yes	Yes
Swimming	Club		Club
Table tennis					Yes	Yes
Tennis	Club		Club
Track and field	Div 2	$	Div 2	$
Ultimate Frisbee					Yes	Yes
Volleyball			Div 2	$	Yes	Yes
Water polo	Club		Club
Wrestling	Club		Club
$ indicates scholarships offered. For intercollegiate sports, the division is given when that information is available. “Yes” is used if a sport is offered, but the school has not specified the division. “Club” indicates intercollegiate competition is at the club level. For intramural sports, “Yes” indicates a sport is available.

Athletic association membership

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Sports website URL	http://www.wwuvikings.com/

Other sports information

Other sports information

Women's volleyball and golf are also offered as club sports in addition to DII. Club sports also include wakeboarding, water skiing, figure skating and freerriding.

Student Life 

Student activities

Choral groups

Drama or theater groups

Newspaper

Orchestra

Radio station

Student government

TV station

Pep band

Clubs and associations

Number of student clubs and associations with open membership	230
Largest clubs and organizations on campus	Intramurals, Residence Hall Association, Associated Students, Outdoor Center, Ethnic Student Center
Student clubs and associations website	https://as.wwu.edu/

Housing 

Contact for more information

Office of University Residences
Housing@wwu.edu
360.650.6565
Housing office website	https://housing.wwu.edu/

Campus housing

Percentage of students who live on campus	26%
School owns or operates housing
Highest year that students are required to live on campus	Not required
Housing availability for first year students	Guaranteed
Housing options	Co-ed
Housing is available for students with disabilities
Dorms require a key or code to enter
Application deposit	$200

Campus housing for graduate students

School owns or operates housing for	Married graduate students, single graduate students
Housing availability for single graduate students	First come, first served
Housing availability for married graduate students	First come, first served
Housing application deadline	May 1
Application deposit	$200

Student Services

Academic services for all students

Academic advising

English as a Second Language (ESL) program

Reading and study skills courses

Tutoring

Health and legal services available on campus for all students

Health clinic

Legal services

Low-cost health insurance

Psychological counseling

Other services for all students

Orientation

Placement testing

Services for students with disabilities

Disability Resources for Students
drs@wwu.edu
360.650.3083 (voice); 360.255.7175 (VP)
Disabilities services website	https://disability.wwu.edu/
Designated parking
Housing
Interpreters for the deaf
Learning aids
Readers for the blind
Registration assistance
Services for students with learning disabilities
Tutors

Services for women and families

Child Development Center
360.650.3021
Child daycare available on campus	Yes
Daycare cost	Sliding scale
Women's center	Yes

Additional services available for these groups

Adult learners

Athletes

International students

Low-income students

Minorities

Veterans

First-generation and non-traditional students: https://wp.wwu.edu/sos/

Campus security

24-hour emergency phone and alarms on campus

Campus patrolled by trained security personnel

Late night transport service

Career Services

Contact for more information

Career Services Center
careers@wwu.edu
360.650.3240
Career services website	http://www.wwu.edu/careers/

Career services offered

Alumni networking and mentoring

Career counseling

Career interest testing

Career library

Job bank

Job fairs

Job interview preparation

Job interviews

On campus recruitment by employers

Placement assistance

Résumé preparation assistance

Résumé referral to employers

Graduate Study 

Contact for more information

Graduate School Admissions
gradschool@wwu.edu
360.650.3170
Graduate school website	https://gradschool.wwu.edu/

Enrollment

Number of undergraduate men	6,546
Number of undergraduate women	8,624
Total number of undergraduate students	15,170
Total enrollment	15,170

Costs for full-time graduate students
(Costs are for the 2019-2020 academic year. Full-time costs are based on 30 credits per year.)

In-state tuition*	$11,933
Out-of-state tuition*	$24,690
Fees	$1,122
* Tuition may vary by program

Graduate admissions

Admission requirements	See https://gradschool.wwu.edu/  for more information.
Application deadline	Varies by program.
Application fee	$100