Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA

School Background

2022 Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,933
Graduate Enrollment: 1,106
Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Highest degree awarded: Graduate
Religious Affiliation: None

Campus Details

Small City (<100k)
Four-year, large, primarily residential // full-time, selective, higher transfer-in

Applicant and Admittance Traits

2022 Admission Rate: 96.1%

Male/Female: 40% / 60% (2017)

First generation college students: 26.7% (2017)
Percentage of students who are married when enrolled: 4.3% (2017)
Percentage of students who are veterans: 0.3% (2017)

Test scores for admission: Considered but not required
2022 Median Admit SAT: 1,206
SAT 25th Percentile - 75th: 1090 - 1310

2022 Median Admit ACT: 26
ACT 25th Percentile - 75th: 22 - 29

Appliants applying to 2+ schools: 73.8% (2017)
Appliants applying to 3+ schools: 52.4% (2017)
Appliants applying to 4+ schools: 36.0% (2017)
Appliants applying to 5+ schools: 25.0% (2017)

Ethnicity Information

White: 68.2%
Black: 1.9%
Hispanic: 10.8%
Asian: 6.5%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.4%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 9.6%
Non-resident alien: 0.9%
Unknown race: 1.6%

Costs & Fees

2022 Average Tuition & Fees (Room/Board/Books): $18,120
In-State tuition: $8,703
Out-of-State tuition: $25,930

Estimated books and supplies: $1,011 (2022)
Estimated on-campus room & board: $13,080 (2022)
Estimated on-campus other fees: $3,840 (2022)

Estimated off-campus room & board: $13,080 (2022)
Estimated off-campus other fees: $3,840 (2022)

Average Family Income: $79,619 (2017)
Median Family Income: $51,312 (2017)

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Percentage of students receiving Pell Grant: 22.2%
Percentage of students with Federal Loans: 28.8%

Median federal loan debt at graduation: $18,500 (2021)
Median federal loan payment: $196 (2021)

Household Income Net Cost
0-$30k $3,885
$30k-48k $4,818
$48k-75k $7,842
$75k-110k $14,157
$110k+ $16,098

Graduate Outcomes & Job Placements

4-year graduation rate: 43%
6-year graduation rate: 68%

1 year post-graduation workforce participation: 94.6% (2020)

Loans

Median federal debt for graduates: $18,500 (2021)
Median federal debt for non-graduates: $7,500 (2021)

Median federal debt for first-generation graduates: $14,000 (2021)
Median federal debt for Pell grant recipient graduates: $14,065 (2021)

Ability to Repay Loans

Graduates, % of Loans in Repayment
(Non-delinquent/default)
Percentage
@1 Year 74.5% (2015)
@3 year 79.4% (2017)
@5 year 80.5% (2017)


1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid (Non-delinquent/default) - Pell Grant Recipients: 63.3% (2015)
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid - 1st Generation Attendees: 65.3% (2015)

Earnings Power

Median earnings, 1 year post graduation: $33,759 (2020)
Median earnings, 4 years post graduation: $50,111 (2020)

Popular Majors

Type of Degree Major 2022 Graduates Median Federal Debt Median Monthly Payment 1yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) 4yr Median Earnings (monthly gross)
Bachelor's Degree Archeology. 17
Master's Degree Computer and Information Sciences, General. 13
Bachelor's Degree Journalism. 72 $18,075 $192 $33,487 ($2,791) $50,965 ($4,247)
Bachelor's Degree Natural Resources Conservation and Research. 248 $20,854 $216 $29,584 ($2,465) $50,224 ($4,185)
Master's Degree Natural Resources Conservation and Research. 13
Bachelor's Degree Natural Resources Management and Policy. 13
Bachelor's Degree Area Studies. 28 $15,655 $159 $29,816 ($2,485)
Bachelor's Degree Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. 3
Bachelor's Degree Communication and Media Studies. 106 $17,875 $190 $31,177 ($2,598) $49,638 ($4,137)
Master's Degree Mathematics. 11
Bachelor's Degree Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. 10
Bachelor's Degree Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. 48 $19,899 $210 $25,739 ($2,145) $39,776 ($3,315)
Bachelor's Degree East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. 20
Bachelor's Degree Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. 6
Bachelor's Degree Sustainability Studies. 34 $19,086 $202 $33,670 ($2,806)
Master's Degree History. 7
Bachelor's Degree Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. 78 $19,121 $186 $29,362 ($2,447) $44,176 ($3,681)
Bachelor's Degree English Language and Literature, General. 99 $19,500 $176 $27,354 ($2,280) $42,267 ($3,522)
Master's Degree English Language and Literature, General. 9
Bachelor's Degree Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. 117 $18,064 $187 $23,100 ($1,925) $30,090 ($2,508)
Master's Degree Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. 6
Bachelor's Degree Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. 7 $21,390 ($1,783) $45,209 ($3,767)
Bachelor's Degree Biology, General. 49 $17,003 $180 $24,229 ($2,019) $45,746 ($3,812)
Master's Degree Biology, General. 6
Bachelor's Degree Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. 23 $20,942 $214 $34,431 ($2,869)
Bachelor's Degree Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. 50 $19,500 $176 $34,843 ($2,904) $46,707 ($3,892)
Bachelor's Degree Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. 17 $23,040 $233 $30,689 ($2,557)
Bachelor's Degree Neurobiology and Neurosciences. 28 $22,000 $233 $36,362 ($3,030)
Bachelor's Degree Mathematics. 41 $21,498 $210 $25,644 ($2,137) $65,171 ($5,431)
Bachelor's Degree Applied Mathematics. 15 $37,592 ($3,133)
Bachelor's Degree Statistics. 9
Bachelor's Degree Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. 109 $24,055 $229 $31,813 ($2,651) $43,086 ($3,591)
Bachelor's Degree Biological and Physical Sciences. 28 $19,574 $212
Bachelor's Degree Mathematics and Computer Science. 13
Graduate/Professional Certificate Historic Preservation and Conservation. 6
Bachelor's Degree Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. 93 $19,500 $186 $22,032 ($1,836) $30,634 ($2,553)
Bachelor's Degree Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies. 58 $17,897 $184 $28,923 ($2,410) $37,881 ($3,157)
Bachelor's Degree Health and Physical Education/Fitness. 48 $19,487 $187 $26,581 ($2,215) $39,375 ($3,281)
Master's Degree Health and Physical Education/Fitness. 7
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma Outdoor Education. 1
Bachelor's Degree Philosophy. 17 $35,881 ($2,990)
Bachelor's Degree Chemistry. 36 $22,104 $212 $37,149 ($3,096) $73,774 ($6,148)
Master's Degree Chemistry. 6
Bachelor's Degree Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. 53 $26,158 $244 $35,219 ($2,935) $48,450 ($4,038)
Master's Degree Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. 5
Bachelor's Degree Physics. 25 $31,761 ($2,647)
Bachelor's Degree Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. 50 $20,500 $207 $21,662 ($1,805) $30,213 ($2,518)
Bachelor's Degree Psychology, General. 201 $19,449 $198 $30,365 ($2,530) $46,069 ($3,839)
Bachelor's Degree Research and Experimental Psychology. 10
Master's Degree Research and Experimental Psychology. 2
Bachelor's Degree Human Services, General. 124 $20,041 $207 $35,652 ($2,971) $40,777 ($3,398)
Bachelor's Degree Anthropology. 83 $22,000 $230 $27,172 ($2,264) $43,549 ($3,629)
Master's Degree Anthropology. 2
Bachelor's Degree Economics. 97 $19,000 $196 $41,384 ($3,449) $67,444 ($5,620)
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma Geography and Cartography. 19
Bachelor's Degree Geography and Cartography. 32 $21,500 $212 $31,001 ($2,583) $43,135 ($3,595)
Bachelor's Degree Political Science and Government. 100 $19,431 $198 $30,046 ($2,504) $46,606 ($3,884)
Bachelor's Degree Sociology. 144 $20,087 $204 $30,189 ($2,516) $45,075 ($3,756)
Bachelor's Degree Dance. 7
Bachelor's Degree Design and Applied Arts. 62 $20,000 $210 $41,385 ($3,449) $68,445 ($5,704)
Bachelor's Degree Fine and Studio Arts. 83 $21,246 $207 $23,724 ($1,977) $35,240 ($2,937)
Bachelor's Degree Music. 18 $20,055 $213 $21,927 ($1,827) $30,978 ($2,582)
Master's Degree Music. 4
Bachelor's Degree Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. 34 $17,500 $152 $29,355 ($2,446) $47,228 ($3,936)
Master's Degree Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. 17 $433 $66,421 ($5,535) $72,457 ($6,038)
Bachelor's Degree Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. 66 $17,854 $188 $25,064 ($2,089) $43,360 ($3,613)
Bachelor's Degree Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. 22 $44,559 ($3,713)
Master's Degree Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. 6
Master's Degree Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. 12 $57,907 ($4,826)
Bachelor's Degree Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. 37 $20,146 $99 $76,553 ($6,379) $87,295 ($7,275)
Bachelor's Degree Business Administration, Management and Operations. 142 $17,375 $177 $50,053 ($4,171) $68,627 ($5,719)
Master's Degree Business Administration, Management and Operations. 20 $303 $69,893 ($5,824) $107,158 ($8,930)
Bachelor's Degree Accounting and Related Services. 81 $20,567 $218 $52,700 ($4,392) $67,739 ($5,645)
Master's Degree Accounting and Related Services. 5
Bachelor's Degree Finance and Financial Management Services. 74 $20,610 $202 $49,938 ($4,162) $70,265 ($5,855)
Bachelor's Degree International Business. 37 $22,250 $214 $38,926 ($3,244) $60,844 ($5,070)
Bachelor's Degree Management Information Systems and Services. 62 $22,333 $230 $56,649 ($4,721) $83,219 ($6,935)
Bachelor's Degree Marketing. 113 $17,498 $182 $41,048 ($3,421) $62,280 ($5,190)
Bachelor's Degree History. 88 $17,860 $181 $25,781 ($2,148) $42,394 ($3,533)
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma Computer and Information Sciences, General. 7
Bachelor's Degree Computer and Information Sciences, General. 125 $19,333 $197 $71,432 ($5,953) $107,521 ($8,960)
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. 2
Bachelor's Degree Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. 11
Master's Degree Educational Administration and Supervision. 22
Bachelor's Degree Special Education and Teaching. 81 $29,284 $286 $52,883 ($4,407) $58,469 ($4,872)
Master's Degree Student Counseling and Personnel Services. 6
Bachelor's Degree Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. 43 $22,000 $212 $54,286 ($4,524) $59,112 ($4,926)
Master's Degree Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. 57 $313 $63,579 ($5,298) $66,287 ($5,524)
Bachelor's Degree Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. 73 $26,000 $262 $47,069 ($3,922) $58,602 ($4,884)
Master's Degree Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. 19 $29,588 ($2,466) $37,115 ($3,093)
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language. 39 $15,000 $159
Bachelor's Degree Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. 26 $25,500 $254 $74,394 ($6,200)
Bachelor's Degree Polymer/Plastics Engineering. 16 $21,656 $209 $56,975 ($4,748)
Bachelor's Degree Manufacturing Engineering. 25 $21,425 $226 $65,077 ($5,423)


Campus Resources

Average faculty salary: $96,777
Full time faculty: 69%

Undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio: 17.0

School's endowment start of year: $87,333,656 (2022)
School's endowment end of year: $112,225,264 (2022)