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
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%
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: $8,703Out-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 | Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | 248 | $20,854 | $216 | $29,584 ($2,465) | $50,224 ($4,185) |
| Master's Degree | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 13 | ||||
| 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 | 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 | Archeology. | 17 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Journalism. | 72 | $18,075 | $192 | $33,487 ($2,791) | $50,965 ($4,247) |
| 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) | |
| 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 | 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) |
| 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 |
Campus Resources
Average faculty salary: $96,777Full 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)