Boise State vs CWU-Ellensburg

Boise State University and Central Washington University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Boise State, nestled in the vibrant city of Boise, Idaho, boasts a higher acceptance rate, attracting a diverse student body from across the nation. Central Washington University, located in the charming city of Ellensburg, Washington, prides itself on its smaller class sizes and strong sense of community. While both universities excel in various academic disciplines, Boise State is renowned for its programs in engineering, business, and education, while Central Washington University shines in fields such as nursing, education, and social sciences. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these universities, including their graduation rates, popular majors, and student demographics, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Boise State University logo

Boise State University

Central Washington University logo

Central Washington University

Overview

Location Boise, Idaho Ellensburg, Washington
Campus setting City: Midsize Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 76.0% 69.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.1% 88.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $75
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 15,648 10,767
Total number of admissions given out 13,008 9,523
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,171 1,371
Yield rate 24.4% 14.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,437

Out of state: $41,357
In state: $22,248

Out of state: $38,776
Average net price $15,828 $17,645
Tuition
In state: $5,532

Out of state: $22,452
In state: $6,656

Out of state: $23,184
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,713

Meal plan: $4,609
Room/dormitory: $7,645

Meal plan: $7,957
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

76.0%
Average amount $10,476
80.0%
Average amount $7,378
Students receiving federal student loan 40.0%
Average amount $4,982
41.0%
Average amount $4,834
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $16,745
2.0%
Average amount $14,197

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 22,404
Men 42.7% Women 57.3%
9,566
Men 47.0% Women 53.0%
Graduate students 3,390
Men 35.8% Women 64.2%
610
Men 37.4% Women 62.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 50.4% 6.7%
International students 1.3% 2.7%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 3,158 3,755
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Idaho California Washington Oregon Nevada Washington California Oregon Hawaii Arkansas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Education
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 53.6% 53.6%
Dropout rate 22.8% 44.0%
Transferred out 19.6% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,319
  • Year 2: $75,047
  • Year 3: $88,314
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,923
  • Year 2: $76,208
  • Year 3: $87,983
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,628
  • Year 2: $72,274
  • Year 3: $87,469
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,383
  • Year 2: $74,786
  • Year 3: $86,815
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,634
  • Year 2: $59,417
  • Year 3: $67,986
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,725
  • Year 2: $60,025
  • Year 3: $66,772
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,061
  • Year 2: $65,621
  • Year 3: $66,199
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,345
  • Year 2: $52,385
  • Year 3: $60,674
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,487
  • Year 2: $60,240
  • Year 3: $59,945
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,480
  • Year 2: $50,022
  • Year 3: $59,773
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $72,482
  • Year 3: $86,230
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,538
  • Year 2: $71,168
  • Year 3: $82,194
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,024
  • Year 2: $65,486
  • Year 3: $79,944
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,531
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $77,665
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,052
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $69,645
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,580
  • Year 2: $56,979
  • Year 3: $69,564
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $55,151
  • Year 3: $62,577
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,170
  • Year 3: $61,531
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,008
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $58,391
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,842
  • Year 2: $50,606
  • Year 3: $58,240

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