For students looking for a college experience in the Pacific Northwest, Central Washington University offers a good range of academic programs in a rural setting. Located in a small town in Washington state, the pioneer spirit remains an integral part of the character of the university. In addition to the main campus, the university also has University Centers at eight other locations, offering a variety of CWU programs to students in those communities.
Central Washington University was founded in 1891 as the Washington State Normal School. The university was located in Ellensburg as a consolation prize to the city, which lost its attempt to be the state capital of Washington state.
Central Washington University
Academics
Central Washington University offers 150 undergraduate degrees and 27 master’s degree programs. The university was founded as a teacher education facility, and the education program remains an integral part of the university’s mission. Programs are divided into a college of arts and humanities, college of business, college of education and professional studies, college of the sciences, continuing education, undergraduate studies, graduate studies, science honors research program and the William O. Douglas Honors College.
Popular Majors
Business and education are the two most popular majors at Central Washington University. The university also has a well-regarded construction management program. The university has a number of research programs. The university has one of the only two research facilities for communications between chimpanzees and humans and was home to the famous chimp Washoe for more than 20 years. All research is purely sociological, no medical research or testing is done on the chimps.
Honors Program
The university also has a well-regarded science honors research program that allows students to develop self-directed research programs. Participation in the program is seen as a leg up into a science-related career, as in recent years students have co-authored a number of scholarly articles in professional publications and presented research at several conferences.
Class Size
Students at Central Washington University may have to attend large classes. The faculty to student ratio is 21 to 1 and less than 40 percent of the classes at CWU have less than 20 students.
Rankings and Accreditation
Central Washington University is ranked No. 40 among best regional universities in the west by U.S. News and World Report. The magazine also gives the university the No. 12 best public school ranking among regional universities in the West.
The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which accredits schools in of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The NWCCU accredits more than 150 colleges and universities in the region.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Central Washington University.
Admissions at Central Washington University are selective. CWU has an admissions index which weighs information submitted by applicants. The index takes into consideration GPA and ACT and SAT scores. New students who score below a certain level on the index may have to submit an essay and meet other requirements for admission.
The deadline to submit an application for fall quarter is April 1, winter quarter is Nov. 1, spring quarter is March 1 and summer quarter is June 1. Transfer students typically must submit ACT and SAT scores and their college transcripts. Students with less than a 2.5 GPA may undergo a comprehensive transfer application review.
As of May 2011, the university charges a $55 application fee.
Financial Aid
Students applying to Central Washington University are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of Washington, the university and other organizations that students may be eligible for.
In 2009, Central Washington University awarded about $100 million in scholarships and financial aid.
For example, the university offers a Heacock Family Scholarship for Women in Technology that awards $1,000 to female students majoring in mechanical engineering technology, electronics engineering technology or industrial education. The university also partners with Scholarship America in the Dollars for Scholars Program, which matches up to $250 of a student’s award from the Dollars for Scholars program.
The university also offers a merit tuition program to students with a demonstrable financial need who score a 45 or higher on the admission index and who have a 3.5 high school GPA. The program awards up to $2,700 per term and students must maintain a 2.5 GPA per term to keep the scholarship.
Central Washington University’s Web site has an exhaustive list of the scholarship opportunities provided by the school and outside sources, including information on how to apply for the scholarships.
The university’s office of financial aid also stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships they may be eligible for.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Central Washington University 4103rd for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Washington scholarships and financial aid
About a third of the university’s 10,000 students live in on-campus housing. In terms of demographics, much like most of Washington state, Central Washington University is overwhelmingly white, with Hispanics being the next largest ethnic group. The student body is split pretty evenly among women and men, with women making up little more than half the student body. The university does have a Diversity Education Center, however.
Central Washington University has nearly 100 clubs and organizations for students. These include professional and academic organizations, as well as special interest groups such as the Rodeo Club. Club sports are also offered at the university and rugby has become a student favorite, with the rugby team winning several intercollegiate games.
There are no Greek fraternities or sororities at Central Washington University.
The university’s student union is the heart of student activities. This $58 million facility houses a variety of university shops, eateries and activities.
The university has a recreation center, an 80,000 sq. ft. facility that offers students a variety of exercise and recreation options. Students visiting the recreation center can take advantage of indoor climbing, strength training, fitness classes and a variety of other activities.
Another popular student activity is the campus radio station, KCWU. From relatively humble beginnings, the campus radio station has evolved into a well-run and well-equipped broadcast station. The student newspaper is called The Observer.
The university’s theatre program is well-respected, and the university hosts a Summer Institute for Theatre Arts that draws theatre educators from throughout the nation each year.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Central Washington University?
Central Washington University offers its men and women a number of competitive athletic sports to participate in, and has had great success with some of its programs in recent years.
Central Washington University is an NCAA Division II school and is a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship.
Central Washington University offers men’s baseball, basketball, football, cross country, track and field and women’s basketball, volleyball, cross country, track and field and soccer.
Central Washington University’s football team has long been the standout program of the university, and CWU is considered one of the most successful northwestern teams in the NCAA Division II. The team had a perfect 11-0 record in 2009. The school had a longstanding rivalry with Western Washington University until that school disbanded its football team in 2009. The team’s home field is Tomlinson Stadium in Ellensburg.
The men’s basketball team won its first ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship in 2011. The softball team won its second consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship in 2011.
Central Washington University teams are nicknamed the Wildcats. The school’s colors are red and black.
Central Washington University
Traditions
The yearly rodeo in Ellensburg has become something of a university tradition, with the university cooperating closely with the city of Ellenburg. Tickets are often tough to come by, as the event is extremely popular with the residents of Ellenburg and students at the university.
Local Community
Located in a small town, Central Washington University students don’t have all the distractions that their fellow students in big city colleges and universities have, but there are a variety of entertainment options on campus for students.
Ellensburg is a small city in rural Washington state, so don’t expect a bustling nightlife. However, the city has a small, yet thriving local music community and the city hosts an annual Jazz in the Valley Music Festival each July. The town is also host to an annual rodeo competition each Labor Day weekend.
Also, despite the small size of Ellensburg, the university can draw big names for concerts and other events. Recent guests at the university include Kathy Griffin, Ben Folds and Jim Gaffigan.
Alumni
Some of the university’s notable alumni include: Roland Wheeler, inventor of the Bowflex, Craig T. Nelson, actor in the TV series Coach, astronaut Dorothy M. Metcalf-Linderburger and NFL quarterback Jon Kitna.
Central Washington University
Additional School Information
In an unfortunate incident in the university’s history, serial killer Ted Bundy abducted a student from the campus in 1974.
Campus Updates
The university recently completed a $17 million renovation project of its Houge Hall, which houses the university’s construction management program. The renovation expanded the facility, adding 56,000 square feet to the facility.
Bibliography
The College Board College Handbook, 2010 . 47th ed. New York: College Board, 2009. Print.
Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Central Washington University, or discuss this school in the University Discussion Forum
almost 4 years agoterry frankieinsc ((at)) aol dot com
i was looking thru my local newspaper and came across this article about one of your softball player and two other players helping that injured player around the bases. your university should be proud of those girls and your womens softball team. it makes me proud to see that there are still wonderful young adults in our great country.again that was wonderful gesture by that girl and your womens softball team. goodluck to the softball team and your school
almost 4 years agoJames Brown, Hooksett NH jebrown99 ((at)) hotmail dot com
I just read the most amazing story on MSN-Fox Sports website about your Women's Softball team. This should not have been in just the sports pages. I can only imagine how proud the University is and the parents should be of these young women and their incredible show of sportsmanship.
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frankieinsc ((at)) aol dot com
i was looking thru my local newspaper and came across this article about one of your softball player and two other players helping that injured player around the bases. your university should be proud of those girls and your womens softball team. it makes me proud to see that there are still wonderful young adults in our great country.again that was wonderful gesture by that girl and your womens softball team. goodluck to the softball team and your school