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Western Washington University

Public#67 Regional Universities

Bellingham, WA

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Located in Bellingham, WA, Western Washington University is a public large school with roughly 13,544 undergraduates. It's not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants, admitting about 93% of applicants. Its highest-earning reported major is Computer and Information Sciences, General (Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $110,138/year four years out. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.

Admissions

Admit rate93%
SAT range1150–1390
ACT range24–31
Undergrads13,544
Yield (admits who enroll)29%
Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 (EA)

Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry

  • Early Action: Nov 1, 2026
  • Regular Decision: Jan 31, 2027

Confirm on Western Washington University's own admissions site before you apply.

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$30,3592024-25
In-state tuition & fees$9,5822024-25
Out-of-state tuition & fees$28,7072024-25
4-year grad rate65%
Median earnings, 10yr out$62,569

Out-of-state students pay $19,125 more per year in tuition and fees (3.0x the in-state rate).

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.

Paying less as an out-of-state student

Western Washington University takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.

Western Undergraduate Exchange

Students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the Pacific territories pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. Each school sets its own requirements, often a GPA minimum, and some majors are left out.

Where do you stand against Western Washington University's numbers?

Check your chances here
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Western Washington University weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans29%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out74%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Area Studies$40,623/yr
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$77,048/yr
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$58,622/yr
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$51,508/yr
Biology, General$50,027/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Accounting and Related Services$82,246/yr
Management Information Systems and Services$81,678/yr
Finance and Financial Management Services$75,730/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$71,886/yr
Marketing$69,323/yr
International Business$63,923/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Journalism$57,697/yr
Communication and Media Studies$56,415/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer and Information Sciences, General$110,138/yr
Education
Special Education and Teaching$64,780/yr
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$63,072/yr
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$62,500/yr
Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$107,131/yr
Polymer/Plastics Engineering$92,439/yr
Manufacturing Engineering$85,314/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$46,571/yr
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$38,460/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$65,380/yr
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$44,615/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$96,695/yr
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$61,802/yr
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$53,428/yr
History
History$46,000/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$38,163/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Applied Mathematics$68,359/yr
Mathematics$54,234/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Sustainability Studies$70,793/yr
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General$54,290/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$43,919/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$53,781/yr
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$50,832/yr
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$50,079/yr
Physical Sciences
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$67,208/yr
Physics$63,833/yr
Chemistry$55,793/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$53,224/yr
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Human Services, General$53,788/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$64,123/yr
Sociology$54,263/yr
Anthropology$50,703/yr
Political Science and Government$49,640/yr
Archeology$38,243/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Design and Applied Arts$69,715/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$40,616/yr
Music$38,858/yr
Fine and Studio Arts$35,161/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity4,196
Typical room chargeNot reported
Typical board chargeNot reported

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankNot considered
RecommendationsConsidered, not required

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What is Western Washington University's acceptance rate?

Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA admits approximately 93% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Western Washington University?

Admitted students at Western Washington University typically score between 1150–1390 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Western Washington University?

Admitted students at Western Washington University typically score between 24–31 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Western Washington University cost?

Western Washington University's total cost of attendance is reported at $30,359 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Does Western Washington University offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?

Yes -- Western Washington University takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.

What is out-of-state tuition at Western Washington University?

For 2024-25, Western Washington University's published tuition and required fees were $28,707 for out-of-state students and $9,582 for in-state students -- $19,125 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.

When is the application deadline for Western Washington University?

Western Washington University's deadlines are Early Action Nov 1, 2026; Regular Decision Jan 31, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Western Washington University require students to live on campus?

No -- Western Washington University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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