Western Washington University is a renowned public University located in Bellingham, Washington founded in 1893. Western students call Bellingham an adventure, a breath of fresh air, and a great place to call home. Western Washington University offers its undergraduate and graduate courses to more than 16,142 students from all across the globe. 96% of admitted students are in the undergraduate course. Currently, Western's student body includes international students coming from 35 countries to study in the USA.
Western Washington University programs are offered in 175+ academic disciplines with 74% of its faculty holding the highest degree in their field. The university also offers International Achievement Awards to its meritorious international students. The amount varies 4,000 USD - 10,000 USD per annum. According to PayScale, the average salary of Western Washington University graduates is 69,130 USD per year.
Admission at Western Washington University is recognized internationally for its successes as one of the most sustainable, “green” campuses in the nation by the Sierra club to one of the highest-ranking public, Masters granting University in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the excellent academic reputation and affordable tuition, the institute’s proximity to Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is one of the primary reasons students choose Western.
Western Washington University Rankings
Times Higher Education Rankings:
- #601–800th: World University Rankings 2021
- #401-500th: US College Rankings 2021
US News and World Report 2021 Rankings:
- #18 in Regional Universities West
- #11 in Best Colleges for Veterans
- #41 in Best Value Schools
Niche 2021 Rankings:
- #60 of 1,674: Most Liberal Colleges in America
- #126 of 1,605: Best College Locations in America
- #153 of 676: Top Public Universities in America
- #466 of 1,577: Colleges with the Best Academics in America
- #469 of 1,572: Best Value Colleges in America
- #992 of 1,589: Most Diverse Colleges in America
Highlights
Type | Public |
Campus setting | Urban |
Endowment | 86.5 million USD |
Cost of attendance | 41,632 USD |
Student retention rate | 82% |
Campus housing student | 88% |
Financial aid | Scholarships, discounts, grants. |
Western Washington University Campus
- Western Washington University campus is located in Bellingham. It is located 90 miles north of Seattle, 55 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, and a 1-hour drive from 10,778 foot Mount Baker.
- The campus of Western Washington University covers a total of 215 acres of the plot. It also includes 38 acres of Sehome Arboretum.
- The campus of Western Washington University includes an electronic music Studio, an air pollution lab, a motor vehicle research lab, a Marine research lab, a wind tunnel, an electronic microscope, and a neutron generator lab.
- Western Washington University also has an off-campus facility at Shannon point Marine Center in Anacortes, Washington. It is a 15-acre student University facility at nearby Lake Whatcom.
- Furthermore, students can be a part of any of the 250+ student clubs and organizations available on-campus.
- Students interested in sports can participate in 8 conference championships in the great northwest athletic conference (gnac): women's soccer and volleyball, men's track & field (indoor & outdoor), men's and women's basketball and golf.
- For students interested in adventure, Bellingham is also a hub of outdoor activity, with easy access to snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and sailing.
Western Washington University Residence
- 88% of first-year students live on campus.
- Western Washington University offers 16 unique residences halls in a variety of sizes and styles distributed in South Campus, North Campus, and Ridgeway Complex.
- It has corridor style of residence having a central hallway and residents share one or two large bathrooms down the hall.
- It also has suite-style apartments. It also has residence halls having single, double, and triple occupancy.
- It also provides housing to students who are particularly seeking an LGBTQ+ affirming and gender-inclusive living experience.
- Every residence hall is coeducational and most are open to students of all ages and class standings.
- Double occupancy rooms are the campus standard, but some halls also offer triples and a few singles.
- Each community has a front desk, laundry facilities, community kitchens, study areas, computer lab, TV lounge, piano, game room, bike storage, and limited permit parking.
- Various dining facilities are available for students on the campus. Applicants can opt for any meal plan accordingly to their will.
Western Washington University Programs
- The Western Washington University offers 175+ academic programs at UG, PG, and certificate levels.
- The university constitutes of 6 colleges- College of Business and Economics, College of Fine and Performing Arts, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, Huxley College of the Environment, Woodring College of Education, Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies and Graduate School.
- Western Washington University offers various degree types in the interest area of Arts and Humanities, business, environment, education, health and Behavioral Sciences, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences.
- The university offers Bachelor of Arts degree, Bachelor of Arts in Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in nursing, additional endorsement, Honors program in undergraduate sections.
- It also offers Master of Business administration, Master of Arts, Master of Education, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Music, Master of professional accounting, Master of Science, Master in Teaching, minor programs, WWU certificate, State issued Certificate preparation and clinical Doctorate in Masters programs.
- The institute has 18:1student to faculty ratio and 27is the average class size.
Western Washington University Application Process
Western Washington University accepts applications from students from all over the world. The applicants need to meet all the eligibility criteria in the deadline.
Application portal: online
The applicants need to apply from the university official website.
Application fee: 60 USD (non-refundable)
Supporting documents:
- Academic transcript
- Letters of recommendation
- SAT or ACT scores/ GMAT or GRE scores
- English test scores
- Resume or CV
- Personal statement/ Essay
- Statement of financial responsibility
The admissions team may ask for some additional documents. Applicants are requested to provide all the documents. If the transcripts are not in English, the translated transcript along with the original must be provided. All documents submitted with the application become the property of the Office of Admissions and will not be released to the student.
ACT and SAT scores are not mandatory.
English Proficiency Test Scores
Tests accepted | Scores required |
---|---|
TOEFL (iBT) | 80 |
TOEFL (PBT) | 550 |
IELTS | 6.5 |
Western Washington University Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance depends on several factors like the course applied type of accommodation, food, and personal items.
Expenses | Cost in USD (annual) |
---|---|
Tuition fees | 22,890 |
Enrollment fees | 2,080 |
Housing and meals | 12,036 |
Books and supplies | 954 |
Transportation | 1,299 |
Personal expense | 2,373 |
Total cost of attendance | 41,632 |
The average cost of attendance for attending Western Washington University is 41,632 USD.
Western Washington University Financial Aid
- Western Washington University provides financial aid to their admitted students. It offers a wide variety of merit-based scholarships for international students.
- The students can also choose to work on campus to earn a little. Several discounts and grants via external agencies can also be received.
- The international achievement award is a 4-year merit scholarship awarded to a student demonstrating strong academic performance. Selection is based upon the application including essays, GPA, evidence of English proficiency. It is a competitive 20,000 USD to 24,000 USD worth merit scholarships. The minimum GPA required is 3.6 and a 24 ACT or 1180 SAT scores.
- All-Washington Academic Team Scholarship is awarded to any member of the All Washington Academic Team who enrolls at Washington with 2000 USD.
- James Michael Haskell Memorial Scholarship is awarded to entering freshmen from Washington State who demonstrates exemplary academic achievement with 2500 USD per year for four years. Applicants are considered on the basis of admission application material.
- Lorraine M.Mortimer Scholarship is awarded to entering freshmen from Washington who demonstrates academic excellence, financial need, history of community-oriented activity and potential leadership quality. The award covers tuition fees for four years. Applicants are considered on the basis of admission application material.
- Western award for excellence is a highly competitive 32,000 USD merit scholarship awarded to incoming first year students. 8000 USD per year for four years is awarded. It is based on academic performance. The average GPA required is 3.8 and 28 ACT or 1320 Sat scores. It is based on the information provided in the admission application.
- External scholarships are also available for the funding of student scholarships to study in the United States. Applicants must check the information in Scholarship sections.
Western Washington University Alumni Network
- For more than 25 years, the WWU Alumni Association has provided more than 1.3 million USD in scholarships to deserving Western students.
- The institute has a portal called WeConnect where alumni and students connect for professional and personal growth.
- As a part of the alumni association, one can enjoy benefits such as transcript services, discounted accommodation, scholarships, etc.
Notable alumni include:
- Ben Gibbard- American singer
- Robert Angel- Creator of Pictionary
- Randy Couture- American actor
- Douglas Massey- American sociologist
- Ben Dragavon- American soccer player
- Michael Farris- Founder of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association
- Kelli Linville- American politician
Western Washington University Placements
- Western Washington University organizes on-campus job placement and internship fairs during the winter and spring semesters.
- Some of the highest-paid designations of graduates include Software Developer, Operations Manager, Account Manager, and Marketing Director.
- On average, graduates earn a starting salary of 56,000 USD per year. In mid-career, this increases to around 102,000 USD.
- Students who graduate from Western Washington with a Bachelor of Science degree are among the highest-paid graduates at the institute.
- According to PayScale, the average salary of Western Washington University graduates is 69,130 USD per year.
The average salaries of Western Washington University graduates by job designation are tabulated below:
Designation | Average Salary Per Annum (USD) |
---|---|
Marketing Manager | 62,000 |
Software Engineer | 90,000 |
Project Manager, (Unspecified Type / General) | 69,000 |
Software Developer | 69,000 |
Operations Manager | 60,000 |
Account Manager | 53,000 |
FAQs
Ques. What is the cost of attending Western Washington University?
Ans. On average, the cost of attending Western Washington University is 42,860 USD.
Ques. What are the most popular majors at Western Washington University?
Ans. Some of the most popularly pursued majors at the university include Marketing & Business Management, Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Natural Resources & Conservation, and Psychology.
Ques. What is the average salary of Western Washington University graduates?
Ans. According to PayScale, the average salary of Western Washington University graduates is 69,130 USD per year.
Ques. Does Western Washington University require letters of recommendation?
Ans. The university does not mandatorily require undergraduate students to submit letters of recommendation.
Ques. Is Western Washington University test-optional?
Ans. The university is Test-Optional, which means SAT/ACT standardized test scores are not a mandatory requirement but will be considered if submitted.
Ques. What is the student-faculty ratio at Western Washington University?
Ans. The student to faculty ratio at the Western Washington University is 18:1.
Ques. What are the application closing dates for Western Washington University?
Ans. The application deadline for the fall quarter is January 31, for the winter quarter it is September 15 and for the spring quarter, it is January 1.
Ques. What programs of study are offered at Western Washington University?
Ans. Western Washington University offers degrees and certificate programs in science, business, humanities, and a wide number of other disciplines.
Ques. What sort of financial aid is available to international students at Western Washington University?
Ans. International students are eligible for various merit and activity-based financial aid offered by the university and private organizations.