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Central Washington University

Central Washington University is based in the town of Ellensburg, WA — a public campus in a small-town setting.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$7,978

family income
under $30k

$11,430

$30–48k

$15,182

$48–75k

$18,886

$75–110k

$22,366

over $110k

Average net price

$18,4762023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Central Washington University rose from $13,786 (2008) to $18,476 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$13,786
2009	$13,728
2010	$14,265
2011	$14,554
2012	$14,589
2013	$14,182
2014	$15,170
2015	$14,132
2016	$14,382
2017	$15,340
2018	$15,397
2019	$16,605
2020	$17,234
2021	$16,768
2022	$14,715
2023	$18,476

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$28,8162024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Central Washington University rose from $17,814 (2009) to $28,816 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$17,814
2010	$19,070
2011	$19,646
2012	$20,021
2013	$21,401
2014	$21,512
2015	$22,284
2016	$21,732
2017	$20,774
2018	$22,357
2019	$22,827
2020	$24,218
2021	$25,200
2022	$25,435
2023	$25,148
2024	$28,816

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,162	$10,413
2001	$3,348	$11,085
2002	$3,792	$11,781
2003	$4,023	$11,799
2004	$4,278	$11,826
2005	$4,766	$13,100
2006	$5,238	$14,193
2007	$5,493	$14,895
2008	$5,724	$15,596
2013	$8,976	$20,886
2014	$9,017	$21,380
2015	$8,688	$21,501
2016	$7,719	$21,522
2017	$7,903	$22,010
2018	$8,072	$23,053
2019	$8,273	$23,954
2020	$8,444	$24,520
2021	$8,685	$25,213
2022	$8,845	$25,910
2023	$9,192	$26,771

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Central Washington University reports tuition of $9,417 for in-state students and $27,526 for out-of-state students. Check Central Washington University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 7,833 undergrads, Central Washington University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

53.6% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Central Washington University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

53.6%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Central Washington University rose from 46.2% (entered 1991) to 53.6% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	46.2%
1992 cohort	46.3%
1993 cohort	45.3%
1994 cohort	46.9%
1995 cohort	51.2%
1996 cohort	50.3%
1997 cohort	52.7%
1998 cohort	48.8%
1999 cohort	51.6%
2000 cohort	49.7%
2001 cohort	55.5%
2002 cohort	55.3%
2003 cohort	56.1%
2004 cohort	55.8%
2005 cohort	55.9%
2006 cohort	53.3%
2007 cohort	51.3%
2008 cohort	53.4%
2009 cohort	51.7%
2010 cohort	52.8%
2011 cohort	51.5%
2012 cohort	54.7%
2013 cohort	57.1%
2014 cohort	58.4%
2015 cohort	53.6%
2016 cohort	52.3%
2017 cohort	49.9%
2018 cohort	53.6%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$11,625	$3,836
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$13,000	$4,374
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$13,408	$5,147
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$13,636	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$14,177	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$13,174	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,362	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,000	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,250	$5,561
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,395	$8,488
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,070	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$13,730	$10,954
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$14,044	$11,334
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$14,354	$12,000
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$17,402	$12,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$19,750	$12,000
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$20,600	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$21,137	$7,680
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$20,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$20,000	$7,831
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$20,000	$8,473
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$20,000	$8,833
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$20,194	$9,014
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$19,500	$9,303

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$49,398

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$55,463

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$61,580

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Central Washington University admitted 8,082 of 8,919 applicants in Fall 2024. The 90.6% rate describes that application pool.

90.6%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $9,192 in-state tuition · 2023–24 7,833 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests not considered · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Central Washington University received 8,919 applications and admitted 8,082 (90.6%), with 1,619 enrolling.

Central Washington University did not consider scores in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. No score range is displayed for Central Washington University under that historical policy.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Acceptance rate

90.6%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	87.8%
Fall 2002	85.4%
Fall 2003	83.5%
Fall 2004	82.6%
Fall 2005	76.3%
Fall 2006	75.2%
Fall 2007	80.1%
Fall 2008	79.1%
Fall 2009	79.1%
Fall 2010	81.4%
Fall 2011	78.4%
Fall 2012	80.2%
Fall 2013	82.2%
Fall 2014	86.5%
Fall 2015	81.6%
Fall 2016	79.7%
Fall 2017	86.3%
Fall 2018	77.8%
Fall 2019	84.9%
Fall 2020	85.8%
Fall 2021	88.4%
Fall 2022	93.5%
Fall 2023	90.2%
Fall 2024	90.6%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

930–1150Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	870	1110
Fall 2002	880	1100
Fall 2003	880	1100
Fall 2004	880	1100
Fall 2005	915	1140
Fall 2006	880	1100
Fall 2007	870	1100
Fall 2008	880	1090
Fall 2009	880	1090
Fall 2010	890	1100
Fall 2011	890	1120
Fall 2012	890	1110
Fall 2013	880	1100
Fall 2014	870	1080
Fall 2015	850	1100
Fall 2016	960	1150
Fall 2017	910	1100
Fall 2018	960	1160
Fall 2019	950	1170
Fall 2020	930	1150

IPEDS Fall 2001–2020, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

17–24Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2003	18	23
Fall 2004	17	22
Fall 2005	18	24
Fall 2006	18	23
Fall 2007	18	23
Fall 2008	18	23
Fall 2009	18	23
Fall 2010	18	24
Fall 2011	18	24
Fall 2012	18	24
Fall 2013	18	23
Fall 2014	18	24
Fall 2015	17	25
Fall 2016	18	24
Fall 2017	17	24
Fall 2018	17	24
Fall 2019	17	24
Fall 2020	17	24

IPEDS Fall 2003–2020, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

7,833Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Central Washington University has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024 — up to 11,468 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 7,833.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	8,095
Fall 2003	8,745
Fall 2004	8,842
Fall 2005	9,192
Fall 2006	9,650
Fall 2007	9,463
Fall 2008	9,688
Fall 2009	10,282
Fall 2010	10,590
Fall 2011	10,485
Fall 2012	10,290
Fall 2013	9,958
Fall 2014	9,751
Fall 2015	10,101
Fall 2016	10,492
Fall 2017	11,468
Fall 2018	10,787
Fall 2019	10,946
Fall 2020	10,264
Fall 2021	9,508
Fall 2022	8,604
Fall 2023	8,081
Fall 2024	7,833

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

70%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Central Washington University has held near 70% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	77%
Fall 2003 cohort	80%
Fall 2004 cohort	78%
Fall 2005 cohort	79%
Fall 2006 cohort	77%
Fall 2007 cohort	75%
Fall 2008 cohort	78%
Fall 2009 cohort	75%
Fall 2010 cohort	78%
Fall 2011 cohort	74%
Fall 2012 cohort	74%
Fall 2013 cohort	79%
Fall 2014 cohort	79%
Fall 2015 cohort	76%
Fall 2016 cohort	73%
Fall 2017 cohort	70%
Fall 2018 cohort	71%
Fall 2019 cohort	70%
Fall 2020 cohort	69%
Fall 2021 cohort	68%
Fall 2022 cohort	69%
Fall 2023 cohort	70%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Central Washington University

28.3% of Central Washington University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Central Washington University as a primarily residential campus of 7,833 undergraduates — and 70% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Central Washington University reported not considering test scores in Fall 2024, when its admission rate was 90.6%. Review Central Washington University's current requirements before applying; use the GPA calculator for your semester numbers.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Central Washington University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Central Washington University90.6%

Washington median83.2%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Central Washington University$9,417

Washington median$19,614

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Central Washington University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Central Washington University$61,580

Washington median$62,092

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Central Washington University, Washington and national reference values
Metric & basis	Central Washington University	Washington median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	90.6%	83.2%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$9,417	$19,614	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$61,580	$62,092	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Central Washington University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Central Washington University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 41 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians	$97,869
Construction Management	$97,651
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	$97,263
Computer Science	$95,368
Economics	$88,799
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians	$84,871
Chemistry	$75,905
Air Transportation	$74,997
Accounting and Related Services	$74,442
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$73,036
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$72,838
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$66,538
Apparel and Textiles	$65,815
Political Science and Government	$64,361
Sociology	$63,608
Public Health	$62,435
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$61,604
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$60,761
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	$60,299
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$59,659
Social Sciences, General	$58,680
Communication and Media Studies	$56,862
Nutrition Sciences	$56,735
Biology, General	$56,154
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$54,858
Psychology, General	$54,530
Human Services, General	$54,318
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	$53,987
Geography and Cartography	$53,081
Music	$51,008
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$50,776
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	$50,318
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$47,979
History	$45,990
Film/Video and Photographic Arts	$45,152
Anthropology	$44,089
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management	$43,480
English Language and Literature, General	$43,101
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$41,971
Fine and Studio Arts	$40,251
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$33,800

These 41 fields listed for Central Washington University measure earnings after completion. The $61,580 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 72 additional Central Washington University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Central Washington University report?

Central Washington University did not consider scores in Fall 2024: 90.6% admitted. Check current requirements.

What is Central Washington University's acceptance rate?

90.6% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 8,082 admitted from 8,919 applicants.

How much does Central Washington University cost?

In-state tuition is $9,417; out-of-state students pay $27,526. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Central Washington University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $61,580. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Washington

Eastern Washington University — 90.7% admitted
The Evergreen State College — 96.4% admitted
Saint Martin's University — 89.8% admitted
Washington State University — 86.6% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.