Western Washington acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Western Washington University · Public · Bellingham, WA · 13,704 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Western Washington admitted 91.3% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 83.7% in 2013. Washington residents pay $9,924 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $29,091.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 83.7% | 9,526 | 7,974 |
| 2014 | 84.6% | 9,285 | 7,852 |
| 2015 | 82.4% | 9,933 | 8,183 |
| 2016 | 83.1% | 10,519 | 8,743 |
| 2017 | 84.8% | 11,244 | 9,534 |
| 2018 | 87.7% | 11,124 | 9,751 |
| 2019 | 90.4% | 10,513 | 9,502 |
| 2020 | 93.5% | 10,219 | 9,556 |
| 2021 | 96.1% | 10,580 | 10,167 |
| 2022 | 92.7% | 11,864 | 10,997 |
| 2023 | 91.3% | 14,243 | 13,005 |
Applications went from 9,526 in fall 2013 to 14,243 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $12,600 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $13,630 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $16,218 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $21,324 |
| Over $110,000 | $27,935 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $9,924 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $29,091 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $30,422 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $19,963 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 9% submitted the SAT, 3% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Washington State WA | 85.4% | $13,888 in-state |
| University of Washington WA | 42.5% | $13,406 in-state |
| CSUDH CA | 91.3% | $7,853 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Of the 14,243 people who applied to Western Washington for fall 2023, 13,005 were admitted, a rate of 91.3%.1 The rate was 83.7% in 2013, so it has moved up 7.6 percentage points, peaking at 96.1% in 2021.1 Declines were limited to 3 of the 10 yearly changes.1 Applications grew 50% across the span, from 9,526 to 14,243, and admitted students went from 7,974 to 13,005.1
Test scores are optional; in 2023 the SAT came from 9% of enrolled students and the ACT from 3%.1 Students who sent the SAT had a middle 570 to 690 in reading and writing and 540 to 660 in math, while the ACT composite was 23 to 29.1
Washington residents pay $9,924 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, and nonresidents pay $29,091.2 For comparison, 8 public bachelor's colleges in Washington have a median in-state price of $11,665, which is more than the resident price here.2 Grants leave families earning $0 to $30,000 with an average net price of $12,600 in 2024-25, with $16,218 at $48,001 to $75,000 and $27,935 above $110,000.2
A 61% graduation rate within 6 years for 2019 entrants sits level with the 61% state median of 26 colleges, and 79% of fall 2023 entrants were retained.2 Median earnings are $64,305 10 years after entry, below the $66,765 state median, and federal borrowers hold $16,500 in median debt.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 14,243 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 13,005 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 3,184 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 13,704 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 570 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 690 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 540 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 660 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 23 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 29 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 9% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 3% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $9,924 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $29,091 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $30,422 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $19,963 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $12,600 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $13,630 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $16,218 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $21,324 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $27,935 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 61% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 79% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 27% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $64,305 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $16,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Washington (N = 8) | $11,665 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Washington (N = 26) | 61% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, Washington (N = 27) | $66,765 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Western Washington, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page