Central Washington University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Ellensburg, Washington
Net price / year
$18,476
after grants & scholarships
higher than 84% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
52%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 59% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$63,444
4 years after graduating
higher than 67% of public 4-year colleges
Central Washington University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Central Washington University?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $9,417 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $27,526 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Central Washington University?
- The average cost of attendance is $28,816 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Central Washington University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $18,476 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Central Washington University?
- About 91% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is Central Washington University test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
- What is the graduation rate at Central Washington University?
- 52% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Central Washington University earn?
- The median graduate earns $63,444 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 3.2 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- At $18,476 a year, the average net price is higher than 84% of public 4-year colleges.
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $11,846 a year on average, versus $26,719 for families earning over $110,000.
- The school admits 91% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
- One year into repayment, 22% of federal-loan borrowers had paid in full or were making progress on their balance (5,593 borrowers).
Tuition and cost of attendance at Central Washington University
Average net price (in-state)
$18,476 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Central Washington University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$73,904
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $11,846
- $30–48k $13,942
- $48–75k $16,022
- $75–110k $21,682
- $110k+ $26,719
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $28,816
- Tuition & fees$9,417
- Books & supplies$900
- Room & board$16,480
- Other expenses$5,925
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $9,417
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $27,526
Central Washington University acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Central Washington University
Graduation rate
52%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
70%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$207
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
3.2 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.3×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 3.9%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 54%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $38,275 · median $61,580 · 75th percentile $84,664
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 5,593 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 9%
- Making progress 13%
- Not making progress 12%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 52%
- Deferment 12%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
5,593 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Central Washington University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $97,869 | 1 yr$77,5004 yrs$97,8695 yrs$92,822 | U.S. median $86,525 U.S. middle half $66.5K–$106.9K · Above the U.S. median | $25,333 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 57 | $97,651 | 1 yr$81,6664 yrs$97,6515 yrs$103,530 | U.S. median $95,124 U.S. middle half $77.1K–$115.2K · Above the U.S. median | $24,120 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $97,263 | 4 yrs$97,2635 yrs$107,747 | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 59 | $95,368 | 1 yr$52,3624 yrs$95,3685 yrs$106,796 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Below the U.S. median | $19,435 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $88,799 | 1 yr$52,1294 yrs$88,7995 yrs$72,632 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Above the U.S. median | $14,744 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $84,871 | 1 yr$65,8714 yrs$84,8715 yrs$83,351 | U.S. median $82,073 U.S. middle half $66.8K–$98.6K · Above the U.S. median | $22,190 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $75,905 | 4 yrs$75,9055 yrs$60,029 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median | $19,687 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 41 | $74,997 | 1 yr$40,0254 yrs$74,9975 yrs$86,851 | U.S. median $85,825 U.S. middle half $61.7K–$118.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 162 | $74,442 | 1 yr$55,2154 yrs$74,4425 yrs$73,436 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Below the U.S. median | $16,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 426 | $73,036 | 1 yr$49,7914 yrs$73,0365 yrs$65,927 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median | $18,500 |
Show all 41 programs
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 245 | $72,838 | 1 yr$56,0494 yrs$72,8385 yrs$73,779 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,137 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 46 | $66,538 | 1 yr$40,9764 yrs$66,5385 yrs$55,380 | U.S. median $63,560 U.S. middle half $45.9K–$83.7K · Above the U.S. median | $20,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $65,815 | 1 yr$51,4944 yrs$65,8155 yrs$47,884 | U.S. median $57,640 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$75.9K · Above the U.S. median | $17,249 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $64,361 | 1 yr$39,2204 yrs$64,3615 yrs$61,390 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Above the U.S. median | $14,385 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 57 | $63,608 | 1 yr$36,4664 yrs$63,6085 yrs$57,042 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | $21,950 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 35 | $62,435 | 1 yr$42,1374 yrs$62,4355 yrs$55,484 | U.S. median $58,808 U.S. middle half $42K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $20,326 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $61,604 | 1 yr$49,1774 yrs$61,6045 yrs$62,919 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Above the U.S. median | $22,068 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 169 | $60,761 | 1 yr$44,1724 yrs$60,7615 yrs$61,698 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 52 | $60,299 | 1 yr$30,3404 yrs$60,2995 yrs$60,504 | U.S. median $62,172 U.S. middle half $41.5K–$83.5K · Below the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 78 | $59,659 | 1 yr$47,3594 yrs$59,6595 yrs$62,318 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Above the U.S. median | $20,205 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 90 | $58,680 | 1 yr$42,3324 yrs$58,6805 yrs$60,508 | U.S. median $53,366 U.S. middle half $36.6K–$72.3K · Above the U.S. median | $18,584 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $56,862 | 1 yr$35,8204 yrs$56,8625 yrs$53,167 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Above the U.S. median | $21,065 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 43 | $56,735 | 1 yr$30,1134 yrs$56,7355 yrs$54,285 | U.S. median $60,053 U.S. middle half $43.2K–$76.8K · Below the U.S. median | $20,306 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 89 | $56,154 | 1 yr$36,4014 yrs$56,1545 yrs$51,199 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Below the U.S. median | $21,166 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $54,858 | 1 yr$27,0064 yrs$54,858 | U.S. median $48,568 U.S. middle half $35.1K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 201 | $54,530 | 1 yr$36,9644 yrs$54,5305 yrs$50,290 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | $18,834 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 45 | $54,318 | 1 yr$36,6444 yrs$54,3185 yrs$43,254 | U.S. median $48,597 U.S. middle half $35.2K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $17,523 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $53,987 | 4 yrs$53,9875 yrs$55,728 | U.S. median $60,190 U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $53,081 | 1 yr$23,5534 yrs$53,0815 yrs$51,964 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $51,008 | 1 yr$25,5324 yrs$51,0085 yrs$35,760 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Above the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 26 Small sample | $50,776 | 1 yr$29,7254 yrs$50,7765 yrs$44,975 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Below the U.S. median | $21,137 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $50,318 | 1 yr$32,8084 yrs$50,318 | U.S. median $50,497 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$70.1K · Below the U.S. median | $21,250 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $47,979 | 1 yr$35,2684 yrs$47,9795 yrs$43,355 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $13,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $45,990 | 1 yr$35,7474 yrs$45,990 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $22,250 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts Bachelor's · Graduates: 43 | $45,152 | 1 yr$23,1264 yrs$45,1525 yrs$41,604 | U.S. median $43,765 U.S. middle half $26K–$63.4K · Above the U.S. median | $22,118 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $44,089 | 1 yr$20,3184 yrs$44,0895 yrs$36,723 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Below the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 43 | $43,480 | 1 yr$28,1404 yrs$43,4805 yrs$44,094 | U.S. median $50,468 U.S. middle half $37.5K–$64.3K · Below the U.S. median | $22,883 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $43,101 | 4 yrs$43,1015 yrs$42,777 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 40 | $41,971 | 1 yr$27,8324 yrs$41,971 | U.S. median $48,471 U.S. middle half $32.2K–$67.3K · Below the U.S. median | $20,036 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 47 | $40,251 | 1 yr$26,1234 yrs$40,2515 yrs$36,916 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Below the U.S. median | $24,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $33,800 | 1 yr$24,6744 yrs$33,8005 yrs$32,946 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Below the U.S. median | $24,500 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 55.5%
- Black or African American 4.7%
- Hispanic or Latino 23%
- Asian 4.3%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.9%
- Two or more races 8.2%
- U.S. nonresident 2%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 0.8%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 46.5%
- Women 53.5%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
20%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 7,833
- Part-time students
- 13%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 28%
- Receive federal loans
- 31%
- Students per faculty member
- 15 : 1
- Setting
- Town
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Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Central Washington University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Central Washington University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $9,417 for in-state students and $27,526 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Central Washington University?
The average cost of attendance at Central Washington University is $28,816 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $18,476 a year. That is higher than 84% of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Central Washington University get?
28% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 31% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $11,846 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $26,719 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Central Washington University?
Central Washington University admitted about 91% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Central Washington University?
52% of first-time, full-time students at Central Washington University finish within 150% of normal time. 70% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Central Washington University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $63,444 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $43,326.
Is Central Washington University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Central Washington University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 3.2 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $19,500, about 0.3 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 52% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do Central Washington University graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $19,500, or about $207 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things