About
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Contact
Jeanne Gaffney
Director of Admissions
Director of Admissions
Address
Office of Admissions
Mail Stop 9009
Bellingham, WA 98225-9009
Mail Stop 9009
Bellingham, WA 98225-9009
Phone
360-650-2422
Email
jeanne.gaffney@wwu.edu
Experience College Life
Most Popular Places On Campus
Viking Union Student Center
Red Square
Performing Arts Center
Sehome Arboretum
Student Recreation Center
Red Square
Performing Arts Center
Sehome Arboretum
Student Recreation Center
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Mt. Baker
Lake Whatcom (Western's Lakewood Facility)
Local businesses and shops
Historic Fairhaven
Chuckanut Drive/Bellingham Bay
Lake Whatcom (Western's Lakewood Facility)
Local businesses and shops
Historic Fairhaven
Chuckanut Drive/Bellingham Bay
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
Monday - Friday
7:15 a.m. - 8:00 p.m
360-650-2422
7:15 a.m. - 8:00 p.m
360-650-2422
Campus Tours
Appointment Required: No
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
Yes
Information Sessions
Available
Times
Available most Fridays throughout the year and select Saturdays in fall and spring.
Faculty and Coach Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
https://wwuvikings.com/sports/2018/6/4/information-for-prospective-student-athletes.aspx
Advance Notice
2 weeks
Class Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
groupvisit@wwu.edu
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available
Transportation
Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Greyhound Bus, Amtrak, and the San Juan Ferries are all located in the Fairhaven Transportation Center 5 minutes from campus. The city bus also stops in the middle of campus and costs students $25 per quarter. The Bellingham International Airport is located 15 minutes away and offers flight service to Seattle; however, most visitors fly into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport located 1 hour and 45 minutes away. Most visitors either fly from Seattle to Bellingham or take a shuttle van or drive a rental car to Bellingham.
Driving Instructions to Campus
From Interstate 5, take exit 252 and follow signs to Western Washington University. Enter the campus at South College Drive and stop at the Visitors Center to obtain a campus map and parking permit.
Local Accommodations
There are dozens of hotels, motels, B&B's and AirBnB's located within 10 minutes of campus. For luxurious lodging, The Hotel Bellwether and The Chrysalis Inn and Spa offer European service with breathtaking Northwest waterfront views. Both hotels are located 5 minutes from campus and rates range from $129-$299 per night. The Best Western Lakeway Inn and Best Western Heritage Inn offer accomodations with moderate pricing. Conference centers, pools, workout facilities, and newer, clean rooms are a frequent choice for visiting families. The Best Western Lakeway Inn is located 5 minutes from campus while the Best Western Heritage Inn is located 10 minutes from campus. Rates range from $59-$89 night. For other accommodations, see Western's web page.
Save SchoolAdmissions
Admissions
Overview
Applicants: 11,124
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average HS GPA: 3.46
SAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
550 - 650
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
530 - 630
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
22 - 29
Testing Policies
Yes
Standardized testing policy for use in admission
Requires applicants to submit either the SAT or ACT
Deadlines
Early Action — November 1
Regular — January 31
Other Admission Factors
Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Faculty and Class Information
Student/Faculty
18:1
Total Faculty
949
with Terminal Degree
701
476
Men
473
Women
137
Minority
57
International
Most frequent class size
10 - 19
Most frequent lab / sub section size
20 - 29
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
38%
Graduate in 5 years
64%
Graduate in 6 years
68%
Majors
-
AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Canadian Studies.
East Asian Studies.
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other.
-
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography.
Neuroscience.
-
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.
Accounting.
Business Administration and Management, General.
Finance, General.
International Business/Trade/Commerce.
Management Information Systems, General.
Marketing/Marketing Management, General.
Operations Management and Supervision.
-
COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Journalism, Other.
Journalism.
Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
-
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance.
-
EDUCATION.
Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching.
Art Teacher Education.
Biology Teacher Education.
Chemistry Teacher Education.
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services.
Early Childhood Education and Teaching.
Earth Science Teacher Education.
Education, General.
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs.
Educational Leadership and Administration, General.
Elementary Education and Teaching.
French Language Teacher Education.
German Language Teacher Education.
History Teacher Education.
Mathematics Teacher Education.
Music Teacher Education.
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching.
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education.
Secondary Education and Teaching.
Social Science Teacher Education.
Social Studies Teacher Education.
Spanish Language Teacher Education.
Special Education and Teaching, General.
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor.
-
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES AND ENGINEERING-RELATED FIELDS.
Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician.
-
ENGINEERING.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering.
Polymer/Plastics Engineering.
-
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
Creative Writing.
English Language and Literature, General.
-
FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Chinese Language and Literature.
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Japanese Language and Literature.
Linguistics.
Spanish Language and Literature.
-
HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist.
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General.
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling.
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other.
Pre-Physical Therapy Studies.
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy.
-
HISTORY.
History, General.
-
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
Humanities/Humanistic Studies.
-
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Applied Mathematics, General.
Mathematics and Statistics.
Mathematics, General.
-
MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Biological and Physical Sciences.
Mathematics and Computer Science.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Sustainability Studies.
-
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Science.
Environmental Studies.
Natural Resources Management and Policy, Other.
-
PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies.
-
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
-
PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Geology/Earth Science, General.
Geophysics and Seismology.
Physics, General.
-
PSYCHOLOGY.
Comparative Psychology.
Developmental and Child Psychology.
Psychology, General.
-
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS.
Human Services, General.
-
SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology, Other.
Anthropology.
Archeology.
Economics, General.
Economics, Other.
Geography.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology.
-
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Dance, General.
Design and Visual Communications, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Industrial and Product Design.
Music History, Literature, and Theory.
Music Performance, General.
Music Theory and Composition.
Music, General.
Visual and Performing Arts, General.
Degrees
Bachelor's
Certificate
Master's
Post-Master's certificate
Certificate
Master's
Post-Master's certificate
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Bill Wright
First African-American to win a PGA gold event
Ralph Munro
Sec. of State of WA, former
Eowyn Ivey
Pulitzer Prize Finalist Author
William Deitrich
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and novelist
Heidi Grant Murphy
Metropolitan Opera soloist
Ben Gibbard
Lead singer for Grammy-winning band "Death Cab for Cutie"
TJ Martin
Oscar winning documentary filmmaker
Careers
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
38%
Graduate in 5 years
64%
Graduate in 6 years
68%
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Dates
Application Deadlines
Notification Date
Mar 20
Required Forms
FAFSA
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$8,830
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$9,138
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,486
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
44%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$11,907
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$6,500
Financial aid provided to international students
No
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
Required Fees
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
Transportation for Commuters
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Federal
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
State Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Direct Lender
No
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
15,170
Foreign Countries Represented
42
Demographics
6.42%
Asian
1.67%
Black
9.46%
Hispanic
70.70%
Caucasian
1.47%
Unknown
1.09%
International
57% female
43% male
14% are out of state
92% are full time
8% are part time
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
Campus Life
Undergrads living on campus
26%
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes
First-Year Students living on campus
88%
Campus Environment
Small Urban
86/99
Housing Options
Apartment Married
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
International Student
Other
Theme Housing
Wellness Housing
Other
Theme Housing
Wellness Housing
Special Needs Admissions
Director
David Brunnemer
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
257
Number of Honor Societies
12
Number of Social Sororities
0
Number of Religious Organizations
12
Sports
Athletic Division
Division II
29% participate in intramural sports
Men's Sports (Vikings)
7 Sports
Basketball
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Golf
Soccer
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Golf
Soccer
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Women's Sports (Vikings)
9 Sports
Basketball
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Sustainability
In 1971, Western Washington University was one of the first institutions of higher education in the United States to introduce a campus recycling program, but with a twist—the WWU Recycling Center is, and always has been, student-run. At last count, the Recycling Center processed 3,800 pounds of recyclable materials daily, and the university’s Office of Sustainability and Facilities Management is “committed to eliminating all recyclable and compostable waste from the WWU waste stream.” Its eventual goal is to have WWU become a zero-waste institution, which means just what it sounds like— no waste, only recycling—as effective a move toward sustainability as one could hope for. The impressive part is they’re remarkably close to achieving zero-waste: in 2011, the university posted an unprecedented 73 percent waste-diversion rate. WWU recently introduced the 10x12 campaign, which has the campus actively working toward a 10 percent reduction in utility consumption by the end of 2012 through conservation, energy efficiency, utility monitoring and audits, and sustainability education. Impressively, and as a result of the student-led Green Power initiative, WWU offsets 100 percent (that’s no typo) of its electrical energy consumption with Renewable Energy Credits. Through Puget Sound Energy’s “Green Power” program, the university has become one of the top twenty buyers of green energy among educational institutions. WWU is a nationally recognized leader in green living through green cleaning—100 percent of cleaning products purchased by Academic Custodial Services are Green Seal-certified, and the school is also looking to expand its pesticide-free garden areas campus-wide.
92/99
AASHE STARS® rating
SILVER
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes
% food budget spent on local/organic food
18%
Available Transportation Alternatives
Car Sharing Program
Yes
Carpool/Vanpool Matching Program
Yes
Condensed Work Week Option For Employees
Yes
Free Or Reduced Price Transit Passes And/Or Free Campus Shuttle
Yes
Indoor And Secure Bike Storage, Shower Facilities, And Lockers For Bicycle Commuters
Yes
Reduced Parking Fees For Car And Van Poolers
Yes
School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
Yes
School Developed Bicycle Plan
Yes
School Offers A Telecommute Program For Employees
Yes
Data provided by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS®, as of March, 2023.
Campus Security Report
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
% of Classrooms with Wireless Internet
100
Fee for Network Use
Yes
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Yes
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
No
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Yes
Description
Dell, Mac
