Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Distant town

91%Acceptance rate
$18,476Average net price / year
54%Graduation rate
$61,580Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$19,500Median debt at graduation
7,833Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$9,417
Out-of-state tuition
$27,526
Total cost of attendance
$28,816
Room & board
$16,480
Books & supplies
$900
Average net price
$18,476

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$11,846
$30–48k
$13,942
$48–75k
$16,022
$75–110k
$21,682
$110k+
$26,719

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
90.6%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
54%
First-year retention
70%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$49,398
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$61,580
Median debt (graduates)
$19,500
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
28%
Students with federal loans
31%

Programs: what graduates earn

57 of 189 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Undergraduate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods—$50,340$19,972

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Construction Management31$81,666$24,120
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods5$81,377—
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians21$77,500$25,333
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians28$65,871$22,190
Computer and Information Sciences, General53$56,049$20,137
Accounting and Related Services115$55,215$16,500
Computer Science77$52,362$19,435
Economics8$52,129$14,744
Apparel and Textiles20$51,494$17,249
Business Administration, Management and Operations191$49,791$18,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas116$49,177$22,068
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods211$47,359$20,205
Criminal Justice and Corrections140$44,172$19,500
Social Sciences, General50$42,332$18,584
Public Health33$42,137$20,326
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication12$40,976$20,250
Air Transportation67$40,025$20,000
Political Science and Government25$39,220$14,385
Psychology, General274$36,964$18,834
Human Services, General43$36,644$17,523
Sociology74$36,466$21,950
Biology, General17$36,401$21,166
Communication and Media Studies22$35,820$21,065
History17$35,747$22,250
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness96$35,268$13,000
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication10$32,808$21,250
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences—$30,340$20,000
Nutrition Sciences0$30,113$20,306
Natural Resources Conservation and Research6$29,725$21,137
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management0$28,140$22,883
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies67$27,832$20,036
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services5$27,006$20,500
Fine and Studio Arts15$26,123$24,000
Music30$25,532$26,000
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft23$24,674$24,500
Geography and Cartography8$23,553—
Film/Video and Photographic Arts26$23,126$22,118
Anthropology19$20,318$20,500
Physics24$56,540—
Special Education and Teaching7$47,530—
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians12$86,230—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions8$97,263—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics21$45,919—
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other4$42,177—
English Language and Literature, General14$29,888—
Chemistry14$44,597$19,687
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences25$42,226—
Mathematics3$82,411—

Master's degree

Students

Undergraduates
7,833
Graduate students
861
Part-time
13%
Women / men
53% / 47%
White
56%
Hispanic
23%
Black
5%
Asian
4%
International
2%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
15:1
Avg faculty salary
$91,116 / year
Full-time faculty
65%
Accreditor
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Website
www.cwu.edu
Also known as
CWU

Most popular fields

  • Computer & Information Sciences – 10% of degrees
  • Education – 14% of degrees
  • English – 2% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 3% of degrees
  • Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 4% of degrees
  • Physical Sciences – 2% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at Central Washington University?

90.6% of applicants were admitted.

How much does Central Washington University cost?

The average net price after grants is $18,476 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $9,417 and the full cost of attendance is $28,816.

How much do Central Washington University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $61,580 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

54% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.