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Western Washington University

Western Washington University is a public campus in Bellingham proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

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

$11,416

family income
under $30k

$12,741

$30–48k

$16,177

$48–75k

$21,581

$75–110k

$25,698

over $110k

Average net price

$21,1932023–24Skip 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 Western Washington University rose from $13,057 (2008) to $21,193 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$13,057
2009	$14,152
2010	$14,446
2011	$15,853
2012	$16,325
2013	$16,551
2014	$15,957
2015	$15,845
2016	$16,220
2017	$16,439
2018	$16,529
2019	$17,070
2020	$9,717
2021	$18,373
2022	$18,680
2023	$21,193

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$30,3592024–25Skip 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 Western Washington University rose from $16,788 (2009) to $30,359 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$16,788
2010	$18,590
2011	$19,610
2012	$20,538
2013	$22,009
2014	$22,458
2015	$22,864
2016	$22,959
2017	$22,374
2018	$23,171
2019	$23,565
2020	$24,465
2021	$18,120
2022	$26,158
2023	$28,305
2024	$30,359

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	$3,102	$10,356
2001	$3,288	$11,028
2002	$3,702	$11,901
2003	$4,182	$12,954
2004	$4,452	$13,839
2005	$4,737	$14,688
2006	$5,002	$15,550
2007	$5,291	$16,365
2008	$5,535	$17,166
2013	$8,863	$19,752
2014	$8,965	$20,407
2015	$8,611	$20,963
2016	$7,903	$21,847
2017	$8,183	$22,695
2018	$8,126	$23,540
2019	$8,343	$24,690
2020	$8,508	$25,266
2021	$8,703	$25,930
2022	$8,967	$26,873
2023	$9,286	$27,853

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

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Western Washington University reports tuition of $9,582 for in-state students and $28,707 for out-of-state students. Check Western Washington University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 13,544 undergrads, Western Washington University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

64.6% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Western 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

64.6%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 Western Washington University has held near 64.6% from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

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	61.4%
1992 cohort	62.7%
1993 cohort	64.3%
1994 cohort	63.4%
1995 cohort	61.2%
1996 cohort	62.6%
1997 cohort	62.3%
1998 cohort	65.4%
1999 cohort	64.8%
2000 cohort	64.3%
2001 cohort	66.8%
2002 cohort	68.7%
2003 cohort	68.8%
2004 cohort	69%
2005 cohort	72.9%
2006 cohort	67.1%
2007 cohort	69.3%
2008 cohort	71.5%
2009 cohort	71.3%
2010 cohort	69.5%
2011 cohort	69%
2012 cohort	68.5%
2013 cohort	68.1%
2014 cohort	67.5%
2015 cohort	67.7%
2016 cohort	65.3%
2017 cohort	65.5%
2018 cohort	64.6%

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)	$13,030	$4,943
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$13,406	$4,660
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$13,208	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$12,738	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$12,415	$5,321
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$12,625	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$12,797	$5,582
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$13,273	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$13,395	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$13,358	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$13,220	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$13,458	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$15,000	$5,667
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$16,292	$6,923
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$17,775	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,656	$7,300
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,000	$6,997
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$19,354	$7,111
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$19,334	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$19,333	$7,667
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$19,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$19,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$18,993	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$18,500	$7,500

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

$45,272

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$53,473

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$62,569

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

Western Washington University admitted 13,162 of 14,115 applicants in Fall 2024. The 93.2% rate describes that application pool.

93.2%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $9,286 in-state tuition · 2023–24 13,544 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1150–13901600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Western Washington University received 14,115 applications and admitted 13,162 (93.2%), with 3,019 enrolling.

Western Washington University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Western Washington University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 590–710 and Math was 560–680 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1150–1390 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	590	660	710
SAT Math	560	620	680
ACT Composite	24	28	31

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

93.3%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	77.1%
Fall 2002	74.4%
Fall 2003	76.4%
Fall 2004	75%
Fall 2005	66.8%
Fall 2006	74.3%
Fall 2007	72.9%
Fall 2008	70.9%
Fall 2009	72.7%
Fall 2010	73.9%
Fall 2011	78.4%
Fall 2012	79.7%
Fall 2013	83.7%
Fall 2014	84.6%
Fall 2015	82.4%
Fall 2016	83.1%
Fall 2017	84.8%
Fall 2018	87.7%
Fall 2019	90.4%
Fall 2020	93.5%
Fall 2021	96.1%
Fall 2022	92.7%
Fall 2023	91.3%
Fall 2024	93.3%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1150–1390Fall 2024 · 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	980	1200
Fall 2002	990	1210
Fall 2003	1020	1220
Fall 2004	1010	1220
Fall 2005	1030	1240
Fall 2006	1010	1220
Fall 2007	990	1220
Fall 2008	1000	1230
Fall 2009	1010	1230
Fall 2010	1010	1230
Fall 2011	1000	1230
Fall 2012	1020	1230
Fall 2013	990	1220
Fall 2014	1000	1210
Fall 2015	1000	1220
Fall 2016	990	1220
Fall 2017	1080	1280
Fall 2018	1080	1280
Fall 2019	1060	1280
Fall 2020	1080	1270
Fall 2021	1090	1310
Fall 2022	1130	1340
Fall 2023	1110	1350
Fall 2024	1150	1390

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

24–31Fall 2024 · 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 2002	20	26
Fall 2003	21	26
Fall 2004	21	26
Fall 2005	21	27
Fall 2006	21	26
Fall 2007	21	26
Fall 2008	21	27
Fall 2009	21	27
Fall 2010	22	27
Fall 2011	22	27
Fall 2012	22	28
Fall 2013	22	28
Fall 2014	22	27
Fall 2015	22	27
Fall 2016	23	28
Fall 2017	22	28
Fall 2018	22	29
Fall 2019	22	28
Fall 2020	22	28
Fall 2021	22	29
Fall 2022	25	30
Fall 2023	23	29
Fall 2024	24	31

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, 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

13,544Fall 2024Skip to data table

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

Undergraduate enrollment at Western Washington University rose from 12,228 (Fall 2002) to 13,544 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	12,228
Fall 2003	12,332
Fall 2004	12,684
Fall 2005	12,816
Fall 2006	12,711
Fall 2007	12,967
Fall 2008	13,236
Fall 2009	13,249
Fall 2010	13,651
Fall 2011	13,685
Fall 2012	13,801
Fall 2013	13,925
Fall 2014	14,054
Fall 2015	14,336
Fall 2016	14,483
Fall 2017	14,876
Fall 2018	15,071
Fall 2019	15,098
Fall 2020	14,121
Fall 2021	13,933
Fall 2022	13,685
Fall 2023	13,574
Fall 2024	13,544

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

79%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 Western Washington University has held near 79% from Fall 2003 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	83%
Fall 2004 cohort	84%
Fall 2005 cohort	86%
Fall 2006 cohort	84%
Fall 2007 cohort	84%
Fall 2008 cohort	84%
Fall 2009 cohort	85%
Fall 2010 cohort	84%
Fall 2011 cohort	85%
Fall 2012 cohort	83%
Fall 2013 cohort	83%
Fall 2014 cohort	82%
Fall 2015 cohort	82%
Fall 2016 cohort	81%
Fall 2017 cohort	81%
Fall 2018 cohort	82%
Fall 2019 cohort	79%
Fall 2020 cohort	81%
Fall 2021 cohort	77%
Fall 2022 cohort	80%
Fall 2023 cohort	79%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about Western Washington University

20.9% of Western Washington University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Western Washington University as a primarily residential campus of 13,544 undergraduates — and 79.4% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Western Washington University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1150–1390 — their midpoint is near the WA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Western Washington University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

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 Western 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

Western Washington University93.2%

Washington median83.2%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

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

Western Washington University$9,582

Washington median$19,614

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

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

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

Western Washington University$62,569

Washington median$62,092

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Western Washington University, Washington and national reference values
Metric & basis	Western Washington University	Washington median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	93.2%	83.2%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$9,582	$19,614	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$62,569	$62,092	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

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

Western 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 51 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$110,138
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$107,131
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$96,695
Polymer/Plastics Engineering	$92,439
Manufacturing Engineering	$85,314
Accounting and Related Services	$82,246
Management Information Systems and Services	$81,678
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	$77,048
Finance and Financial Management Services	$75,730
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$71,886
Sustainability Studies	$70,793
Design and Applied Arts	$69,715
Marketing	$69,323
Applied Mathematics	$68,359
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	$67,208
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$65,380
Special Education and Teaching	$64,780
Economics	$64,123
International Business	$63,923
Physics	$63,833
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$63,072
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$62,500
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$61,802
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences	$58,622
Journalism	$57,697
Communication and Media Studies	$56,415
Chemistry	$55,793
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General	$54,290
Sociology	$54,263
Mathematics	$54,234
Human Services, General	$53,788
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$53,781
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs	$53,428
Psychology, General	$53,224
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	$51,508
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies	$50,832
Anthropology	$50,703
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$50,079
Biology, General	$50,027
Political Science and Government	$49,640
English Language and Literature, General	$46,571
History	$46,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	$44,615
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	$43,919
Area Studies	$40,623
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$40,616
Music	$38,858
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$38,460
Archeology	$38,243
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$38,163
Fine and Studio Arts	$35,161

These 51 fields listed for Western Washington University measure earnings after completion. The $62,569 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 46 additional Western Washington University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Western Washington University report?

Western Washington University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1150–1390 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Western Washington University's acceptance rate?

93.2% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 13,162 admitted from 14,115 applicants.

How much does Western Washington University cost?

In-state tuition is $9,582; out-of-state students pay $28,707. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Western Washington University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $62,569. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Washington

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