Central Washington Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Central Washington University is a public research university in Ellensburg, Washington, serving roughly 7,833 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 90.62% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $61,580 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,417
- 2024 Average Net Price: $18,476 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 90.62% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 7,833 86.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 53.61%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 40.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 12.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 65.3%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 23,522
- Applicants (IPEDS): 6,829
- Room & Board: $16,480 annual estimate
Central Washington University: what the data shows
Common questions about Central Washington University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Central Washington University?
Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, WA (ZIP 98926).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Central Washington University public or private?
Central Washington University is a Public institution.
How much does Central Washington University cost?
Published tuition: $9,417 in-state, $27,526 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $18,476.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $11,846 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,942 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,022 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,682 |
| $110,001+ | $26,719 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $37,668.
How hard is it to get into Central Washington University?
Admission rate: 90.62%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Central Washington University?
Total enrollment: 7,833 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 23,522 students.
Graduate enrollment: 494 students.
About 87% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Central Washington University?
150%-time completion rate: 53.61%.
First-year retention: 70.0%.
What do graduates of Central Washington University earn?
Median earnings: $49,398 six years after entry; $61,580 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $19,500.
28.28% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Central Washington University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (276 completions)
- Psychology, General (260 completions)
- Information Technology (180 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (161 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (134 completions)
- Accounting (82 completions)
- Computer Science (76 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (75 completions)
- Music, General (72 completions)
- Sociology, General (66 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Central Washington University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 90.62%; completion rate 53.61%; median earnings $61,580 at 10 years; net price $18,476. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$9,417
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Central Washington University was $9,417.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$18,476
2024 Value
In 2024 Central Washington University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,476.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$73,904 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$18,476 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$37,668 4-Year In-State Tuition
$110,104 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$16,480 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$900 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$26,797 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$107,188 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Central Washington University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
28.28% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
31.29% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Central Washington University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Central Washington University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $8,976 | $20,886 | $14,589 |
| 2014 | $9,017 | $21,380 | $14,182 |
| 2015 | $8,688 | $21,501 | $15,170 |
| 2016 | $7,719 | $21,522 | $14,132 |
| 2017 | $7,903 | $22,010 | $14,382 |
| 2018 | $8,072 | $23,053 | $15,340 |
| 2019 | $8,273 | $23,954 | $15,397 |
| 2020 | $8,444 | $24,520 | $16,605 |
| 2021 | $8,685 | $25,213 | $17,234 |
| 2022 | $8,845 | $25,910 | $16,768 |
| 2023 | $9,192 | $26,771 | $14,715 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
90.62% Acceptance Rate
6,829 Total Applicants
6,161 Students Admitted
1,568 First-Time Students Enrolled
25.45% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Central Washington University reported total enrollment of about 7,833 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (55.5%), Hispanic or Latino (23.0%), and Two or More Races (8.2%). About 28.28% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
86.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Central Washington University in 2024 is 7,833 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 23,522 students. Graduate enrollment is about 494 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
70.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 55.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
36.47% 100% Completion Time
53.61% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 36.47% of students graduating from Central Washington University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 51% male / 49% female
- Psychology, General: 18% male / 82% female
- Information Technology: 71% male / 29% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Central Washington University.
Return on Investment
$19,500 Median Student Debt
$61,580 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
31.67% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
733.24% Return on Investment
3.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Central Washington University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 100 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 276 completions
2. Psychology, General: 260 completions
3. Information Technology: 180 completions
4. Elementary Education and Teaching: 161 completions
5. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 134 completions
6. Accounting: 82 completions
7. Computer Science: 76 completions
8. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 75 completions
9. Music, General: 72 completions
Most popular programs at Central Washington University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Central Washington University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Central Washington University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 65.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,124
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,278
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Central Washington University is a public institution located in Ellensburg, WA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Information Technology. Enrollment is approximately 7,833 students. Student body composition includes White (55.5%), Hispanic or Latino (23.0%), Two or More Races (8.2%). The admission rate is 90.62%. The 150%-time completion rate is 53.61%. Approximately 28.28% of students receive Pell Grants. About 40.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 100 distinct degree programs, Central Washington University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Central Washington University located?
Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, WA.
What is Central Washington University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Central Washington University is 90.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 6,829 applicants and 6,161 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Central Washington University cost?
Reported tuition is $9,417 and average net price is $18,476 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,480 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Central Washington University?
Central Washington University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 23,522 students, White (55.5%), Hispanic or Latino (23.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Central Washington University?
About 40.0% of students at Central Washington University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Central Washington University earn?
Median earnings are $49,398 six years after entry and $61,580 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Central Washington University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 53.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Central Washington University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,500.
Is Central Washington University public or private?
Central Washington University is a public institution located in Ellensburg, WA.
Is Central Washington University an HBCU?
No. Central Washington University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Central Washington University a tribal college?
No. Central Washington University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Central Washington University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Central Washington University does not meet that proxy (reported share 23.0%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Washington college costs
- Washington colleges by ROI
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Washington
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.