Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Small city

93%Acceptance rate
$21,193Average net price / year
65%Graduation rate
$62,569Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$18,500Median debt at graduation
13,544Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$9,582
Out-of-state tuition
$28,707
Total cost of attendance
$30,359
Room & board
$15,747
Books & supplies
$1,224
Average net price
$21,193

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$12,915
$30–48k
$14,147
$48–75k
$17,539
$75–110k
$24,301
$110k+
$27,984

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
93.3%
Average SAT
1289
SAT reading (25–75%)
590–710
SAT math (25–75%)
560–680
ACT composite (25–75%)
24–31

Outcomes

Graduation rate
65%
First-year retention
79%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$45,272
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$62,569
Median debt (graduates)
$18,500
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
21%
Students with federal loans
29%

Programs: what graduates earn

67 of 151 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
Geography and Cartography18$34,230—
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language10—$15,000

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing21$80,808$9,369
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering0$77,516$24,000
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management26$72,675—
Computer and Information Sciences, General128$68,219$18,583
Manufacturing Engineering25$65,863$21,323
Management Information Systems and Services41$61,668$21,667
Polymer/Plastics Engineering21$60,375$19,743
Accounting and Related Services54$60,048$20,567
Business Administration, Management and Operations99$53,402$16,666
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods43$53,133$20,043
Special Education and Teaching102$52,912$27,000
Finance and Financial Management Services47$51,984$19,084
Chemistry44$48,527$20,012
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions0$46,770—
Economics48$45,401$18,500
Marketing115$43,375$17,166
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas61$42,795$24,700
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology41$42,025$20,166
Sustainability Studies30$41,600$19,086
Human Services, General94$39,487$19,500
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences39$39,225$16,582
Neurobiology and Neurosciences47$39,011$22,000
International Business27$38,412$20,166
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences41$36,802$22,969
Communication and Media Studies86$34,857$17,887
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General58$34,119$21,595
Journalism48$34,119$18,151
Biology, General47$33,871$16,950
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology18$33,323$22,020
Area Studies9$33,103$15,000
Sociology106$33,039$19,207
English Language and Literature, General84$32,334$16,585
Psychology, General240$32,306$18,654
Design and Applied Arts57$31,078$19,833
Natural Resources Conservation and Research207$30,899$20,352
Geography and Cartography7$29,931$19,970
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness40$29,268$17,660
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs77$29,238$17,708
Anthropology49$27,851$21,727
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies43$27,558$17,395
Political Science and Government90$27,217$18,675
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies115$27,116$17,604
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics40$26,557$17,500
History87$25,355$17,100
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft47$24,258$19,500
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services33$24,232$19,798
Archeology19$24,061—
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other128$23,213$17,500
Fine and Studio Arts67$23,102$19,500
Mathematics16$22,953$19,781
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services38$19,512$14,334
Music29$15,834$20,055
Applied Mathematics16$68,359—
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians0$64,302—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities8$26,896—
Physics18$63,833—
Biological and Physical Sciences16—$19,993
Philosophy13$27,664—

Master's degree

Students

Undergraduates
13,544
Graduate students
1,109
Part-time
9%
Women / men
57% / 43%
White
69%
Hispanic
11%
Black
2%
Asian
6%
International
1%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
18:1
Avg faculty salary
$106,218 / year
Full-time faculty
71%
Accreditor
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Website
wwu.edu
Also known as
Western Washington State College|Western Washington College of Education

Most popular fields

  • Natural Resources & Conservation – 6% of degrees
  • Communication & Journalism – 5% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 4% of degrees
  • Education – 7% of degrees
  • English – 5% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 5% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at Western Washington University?

93.3% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1289 on the SAT.

How much does Western Washington University cost?

The average net price after grants is $21,193 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $9,582 and the full cost of attendance is $30,359.

How much do Western Washington University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $62,569 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

65% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in Bellingham

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
Whatcom Community College
Bellingham, WA · Public · 2,378 students
$11,795—36%$44,092
Bellingham Technical College
Bellingham, WA · Public · 1,733 students
$5,997—42%$49,748
Northwest Indian College
Bellingham, WA · Public · 629 students
$3,136—18%$35,447
Zorganics Institute of Beauty and Wellness
Bellingham, WA · Private for-profit · 35 students
$20,354———

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