Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA400 East University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501
509-963-1111
Central Washington University (CWU) is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington. Founded in 1891, the university consists of five main academic divisions: the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Business, the College of the Sciences, the School of Education, and the Graduate School. The university also operates a number of research centers and institutes, including the Center for Excellence in STEM Education, the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis, and the Institute for Research on Poverty.
With over 12,000 students, CWU is the largest university in the region. The university offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as a number of professional and continuing education programs. CWU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
CWU was founded in 1891 as the Washington State Normal School, a teacher-training institution. The school was renamed several times over the years, becoming Central Washington College of Education in 1937, Central Washington State College in 1961, and finally Central Washington University in 1977.
The university has grown significantly since its founding, expanding its academic programs and facilities. In recent years, CWU has added a number of new academic programs, including degrees in engineering, computer science, and nursing. The university has also built a number of new facilities, including the Samuelson Union Building, the Student Recreation Center, and the Surplus Property Warehouse.
CWU is committed to providing a quality education to its students. The university has a number of programs and services in place to help students succeed, including academic advising, tutoring, and career services. CWU also offers a number of scholarships and financial aid programs to help students pay for their education.
Quick Facts
Enrollment: 11174
Acceptance Rate: 85.99%
Type: Public, 4-year or above
Main Website: https://www.cwu.edu/
Financial Aid: https://www.cwu.edu/financial-aid
Annual Costs
Total Cost In-State On-Campus: $26053
Total Cost Out-State On-Campus: $42129
Return on Investment Rating
The estimated cost for four years as an undergraduate at Central Washington University is $103897.26. This includes the average cost of attendance for four years plus the interest on the average loan over a ten year repayment minus the average of grants and scholarships per student.
We then contrast this figure with average early-career and mid-career average incomes of graduates of four year programs at Central Washington University. For graduates of Central Washington University, we saw an average early-career income of $57300.00 and mid-career income of $99600.00. We then ranked the school's value based on how many years of mid-career income it takes to repay the educational costs.