Western Washington University

www.wwu.edu

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$7,572

2.64% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$11,388

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.598%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

96.1%

10,580 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

15,125

87.7% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

67.7%

1,884 Graduates

About

Western Washington University is a higher education institution located in Whatcom County, WA. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Washington University were General Psychology (224 degrees awarded), Sociology (138 degrees), and Environmental Science (126 degrees).

In 2021, 3,975 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Washington University. 60.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 39.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,890 degrees), 7.24 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (399 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Washington University is $7,572, which is $−15,612 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

Photo by domjisch

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Washington University is $7,572, which is $−15,612 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $11,388.

In 2021, 58% of undergraduate students attending Western Washington University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 29% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$7,572

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Western Washington University was $7,572. The cost of tuition at Western Washington University is $−15,612 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

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

Average Net Price

$11,388

2021 Value

38.1%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Western Washington University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,388. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Western Washington University grew by 38.1%.

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

$12,518

Room and Board

$996

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Washington University was of $12,518 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 4% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $996. The cost of books and supplies increased by 4.4% 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

58%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

29%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

58% of undergraduate students at Western Washington University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 1.75% with respect to 2020, when 57% 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.

0.598%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Western Washington University was 0.598%, which represents 18 out of the 3009 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 10,580 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 3.53% annual growth. Out of those 10,580 applicants, 10,167 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 96.1% acceptance rate.

There were 15,125 students enrolled at Western Washington University in 2021. 16% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Washington University has an overall enrollment yield of 28.3%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

96.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

10,167

Accepted Out of 10,580

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Washington University was 96.1% (10,167 admissions from 10,580 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 93.5%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 3.53%, while admissions grew by 6.39%..

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

16%

Submission Percentage (2021)

468

Scores Submitted (2021)

16% of enrolled first-time students at Western Washington University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Washington University had a total enrollment of 15,125 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Western Washington University is 13,261 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,864. This means that 87.7% of students enrolled at Western Washington University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Washington University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 68.2% White, 10.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.35% Two or More Races, 6.37% Asian, 1.86% Black or African American, 0.45% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.132% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Washington University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (39.6%), followed by White Male (28.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (6.85%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (42.5%), followed by White Male (27.8%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.77%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

87.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Washington University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 15,125 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Washington University is 13,261 and the part-time enrollment is 1,864. This means that 87.7% of students enrolled at Western Washington University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.3% 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

81%

2021 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 81%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), 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 (2021)

White
10,313 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,596 enrolled students
Two or More Races
1,414 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Washington University is 68.2% White, 10.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.35% Two or More Races, 6.37% Asian, 1.86% Black or African American, 0.45% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.132% 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 52% White, 16.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.8% 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, 322 students (2.13%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 861 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 (2,890 degrees awarded). There were 7.24 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (399 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Washington University is General Psychology (224 degrees awarded), followed by Sociology (138 degrees) and Environmental Science (126 degrees).

In 2021, 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 (256 degrees awarded), Language & Linguistics (126 degrees), and English (201 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

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 Elementary & middle school teachers (197,065 people), Postsecondary teachers (186,381 people), Other managers (179,612 people), Secondary school teachers (118,277 people), and Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (117,615 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Washington University in 2021 are Natural Resources & Conservation (256 degrees awarded), Language & Linguistics (126 degrees), English (201 degrees), Physical Sciences (126 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (286 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

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 Surgeons, Physicians, Nurse anesthetists, Sales engineers, and Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

The most specialized majors at Western Washington University are Natural Resources & Conservation (256 degrees awarded), Language & Linguistics (126 degrees), English (201 degrees), Physical Sciences (126 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (286 degrees) (as of 2021).

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 (437,795 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (358,932 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (206,748 people), Computer Systems Design (151,017 people), and Legal services (102,652 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 (2021)

General Psychology
224 degree-majors awarded
Sociology
138 degree-majors awarded
Environmental Science
126 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Washington University was General Psychology with 224 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

1,557

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

2,418

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 1,557 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University, which is 0.644 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,418).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 120 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University in General Computer & Information Sciences, which is 6.32 times more than the 19 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 166 degrees were awarded to men at Western Washington University in General Psychology, which is 2.86 times more than the 58 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

37%

100% Completion Time

68%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 37% 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 70% 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.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (72.7%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Western Washington University is Female and Asian (72.7% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

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, 1.96% of graduates (37 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
2,890 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
399 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
281 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Washington University is white (2,890 degrees awarded). There were 7.24 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (399 degrees).

2.01% of degree recipients (80 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
1,755 degrees awarded
White Male
1,135 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
254 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Washington University is white female (1,755 degrees awarded). There were 1.55 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1135 degrees).

Operations

Western Washington University has an endowment valued at nearly $112M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 5.3M (4.72%) compared to the 13.1% average return (6.61M on 50.4M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2021, Western Washington University had a total salary expenditure of 317M. Western Washington University employs 233 Professors, 184 Associate professors and 129 Assistant professors. Most academics at Western Washington University are Male Professor (142), Male Associate professor (99), and Female Professor (91).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Washington University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 384 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 168 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 156 employees.

Endowment

$112M

2021 Endowment

24.7%

growth from 2020

Western Washington University has an endowment valued at about $112M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Washington University grew 24.7% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $61.8M 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

$6.75M - Federal
$26.4M - State
$411k - Local

As of 2021, Western Washington University received $6.75M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $26.4M from state grants and contracts, and $411k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$164M

2021 Salaries

2.77%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Western Washington University paid a median of $164M in salaries, which represents 51.6% of their overall expenditure ($317M) and a 2.77% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 35.1M (41.3% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$62.3M

Instructional Salaries

631

Number of Employees

In 2021, Western Washington University paid a total of $62.3M to 631 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11M (31.3%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

233 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

384 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Washington University were Professor with 233 employees, Associate professor with 184 employees, and Assistant professor with 129 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Washington University were Office and Administrative Support with 384 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 168 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 156 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Washington University was Male Professor with 142 employees, Male Associate professor with 99 employees, and Female Professor with 91 employees.

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