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Colleges / Central Washington University

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA 4-Year Public
Acceptance Rate90%

Central Washington University (CWU) Student Life

Central Washington University Student Activities

Interested in Greek life?

Central Washington University has the SISTERS. In fact, more students participate in the SISTERS than any other on-campus activity.

Other popular student organizations at Central Washington University include Brother 2 Brother, Cosplay, Alpha Kappa Si and Society of Human Resource Management.

The Central Washington University community comes together each year for Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression, Yakima River Clean Up and Waffle Night.

Does Central Washington University Offer Student Housing?

This table offers information on housing at Central Washington University.

Housing Options Offered? Details
On-Campus Housing Yes
Guaranteed Housing Yes Guaranteed for freshman
Co-ed Housing Available Yes
Housing for Students with Disabilities Yes
Percentage of Students Living On-Campus 9%
Spots Available in On-Campus Housing 4,249
Number of Students Living On-Campus 2,915
Percentage of Students Living Off-Campus

Central Washington University offers on-campus housing. Students are required to live on campus. First year students are guaranteed on-campus housing.

The majority of Central Washington University students live on campus. In 2023, 9% of undergrads at Central Washington University lived in some kind of on-campus housing and 91% of students lived off-campus or commuted to Central Washington University. There are 4,249 spots available in on-campus housing for all 8,743 undergraduates. In the 2022-2023 school year, 2,915 students chose to live on-campus. First year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Central Washington University offers coed housing and housing for students with disabilities.

Central Washington University Athletics

At Central Washington University there are a variety of athletic options for students interested in joining a sports program.

Intercollegiate sports are the highest tier of college sports and can be very competitive. Intercollegiate teams are regulated by the NCAA, funded by the university, and compete against teams from other universities. The division of a sports team depends on the size of the university, funding, and competition level. An intercollegiate school team will be Division I, II or III, with Division I being the highest level.

Club sports are not regulated by the NCAA and are a great option for students not interested in trying out for an intercollegiate team. Club sports are usually student run but can also be funded by the university.

Intramural sports are the most casual and informal. Intramural sports are often free and require very little time commitment.

Let's take a look at the athletic options available at Central Washington University:

Sport Men's Intramural Women's Intramural Men's Division Women's Division Men's Scholarships Women's Scholarships
Basketball NCAA Division 2 NCAA Division 2
Cheerleading NCAA Division 2 NCAA Division 2
Track And Field NCAA Division 2 NCAA Division 2
Cross Country Running NCAA Division 2 NCAA Division 2
Archery Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Bowling Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Equestrian Sports Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Fencing Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Ice Hockey Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Lacrosse Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Rock Climbing Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Swimming And Diving Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Tennis Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Ultimate Frisbee Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Water Polo Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams
Wrestling Intercollegiate Club Teams Intercollegiate Club Teams

Is Central Washington University Safe?

College is like a home away from home. Whether you're walking to class or coming back from late-night studying (or partying!), it's important to feel safe on campus.

Central Washington University is patroled 24 hours a day by trained security. The Central Washington University (CWU) campus has emergency telephones or alarms for students to use anytime of day or night.

Central Washington University (CWU) offers late-night transportation or safety escorts for students. Campus housing is secure and dorms can only be accessed with secure key cards.

Additionally, Central Washington University (CWU) has alert update system: emergency notification across digital platforms, Rape Aggression Defense System: realistic self-defense for women.

Plan a Visit to Central Washington University

Visiting colleges is one of the best ways to get a sense of the campus and student body. If you'd like to visit Central Washington University, take Interstate 90 to Ellensburg, WA. If you need to fly, book your flight to Yakima Air Terminal, Seattle-Tacoma International airport.

While you're planning, check out other schools in Washington you may want to visit too. Click the heart at the top of each school's page to save it to your college list.

Want to visit but can't make the trip? Explore Central Washington University's campus without leaving home by taking a virtual campus tour

Keep Reading About Central Washington University

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Admissions

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Connect with other students, parents, and admissions professionals to learn more about about Central Washington University (CWU) in the College Confidential forums.

Central Washington University (CWU) Students

52%

Women

48%

Men

87%

Full Time

13%

Part Time

94%

In State

6%

Out-of-State

Ethnicity

55%

20%

9%

5%

4%

3%

3%

1%

1%

Undergraduate Students

8,743

Graduate Students

514

Non-Resident / International Students

243

Central Washington University (CWU) Campus Services

Student Services
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Counseling
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Health Clinic
  • 31515C82-8D2D-421D-B67C-E215D0E49BE9 Women's Center
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Veterans Affairs
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Career Planning
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Alumni Networking
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 ESL
Campus Security
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 Late-Night Transport / Escort
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 24-Hour Emergency Phone / Alarm
  • 1E1A89E0-A58D-422D-B45D-7554EC36A535 24-Hour Security Patrol

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

9,257

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

90%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$8,339

Out-of-State

$26,393

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Mar 1
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