Campus & Student Life at Central Washington University

Home to about 10,518 undergraduates in 2020, CWU is a large, public university located in Ellensburg, Washington. This is a great opportunity for those who would thrive in a charming, small-town atmosphere. Should you tire of the campus however, CWU offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by CWU can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our CWU Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

CWU Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 5.0% of the student population at CWU. For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit CWU Disability Services.

CWU for the Military

While not a "service academy", CWU does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit CWU Veteran Services . For more information, check out our CWU for Veterans Guide.

CWU offers On-Campus Day Care

For students with young families, CWU does offer some day care. Programs like this are often in very high demand, so be sure to inquire as soon as you can.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Central Washington University

CWU offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Central Washington University

CWU has a comparatively large, student body. There were 10,518 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 9,235 (87.8%). Part-time attendance was 1,283 (12.2%).

Central Washington University is Ranked #567 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, CWU receives top marks for overall diversity. We rank CWU #567 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at CWU by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the CWU Diversity Guide.

Central Washington University Competes in the NCAA

CWU has a total of 421 student athletes, 225 men and 196 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Central Washington University Athletics