Dickinson State vs Western Washington University (WWU)

Dickinson State University and Western Washington University, located in contrasting regions of the United States, offer distinct educational experiences. Dickinson State, nestled in the heart of North Dakota, is a public university with a close-knit community and a focus on undergraduate education. Western Washington, situated in the vibrant city of Bellingham, Washington, is a comprehensive public university known for its strong academic programs and research opportunities. While both universities share a commitment to student success, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Dickinson State University logo

Dickinson State University

Western Washington University logo

Western Washington University

Overview

Location Dickinson, North Dakota Bellingham, Washington
Campus setting Town: Remote City: Small
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 65.0% 81.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 99.3% 96.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $100
SAT range 923 - 1063 1090 - 1310
ACT range 16 - 22 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 4.0% 16.0%
Students submitting ACT score 63.0% 3.0%
Total number of applicants 459 10,580
Total number of admissions given out 456 10,167
Admitted students who chose to enroll 269 2,874
Yield rate 59.0% 28.3%
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 Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $20,322

Out of state: $22,142
In state: $26,634

Out of state: $43,861
Average net price $15,607 $11,388
Tuition
In state: $6,474

Out of state: $8,294
In state: $7,572

Out of state: $24,799
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $3,000

Meal plan: $4,500
$13,079
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

96.0%
Average amount $5,352
82.0%
Average amount $7,112
Students receiving federal student loan 53.0%
Average amount $4,882
29.0%
Average amount $4,929
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $8,989
3.0%
Average amount $15,435

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,337
Men 43.2% Women 56.8%
14,019
Men 42.6% Women 57.4%
Graduate students 78
Men 52.6% Women 47.4%
1,106
Men 36.4% Women 63.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 50.2% N/A
International students 3.4% 1.0%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote City: Small
Dormitory capacity 397 3,985
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from North Dakota Montana Wyoming South Dakota California N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 36.4% 67.7%
Dropout rate 29.4% 30.6%
Transferred out 32.1% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,558
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $55,198
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,445
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $50,127
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,657
  • Year 2: $41,789
  • Year 3: $45,890
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,396
  • Year 2: $38,597
  • Year 3: $43,780
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,832
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $43,117
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,405
  • Year 2: $42,123
  • Year 3: $42,677
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $40,621
  • Year 3: $41,233
Agriculture, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,348
  • Year 2: $37,748
  • Year 3: N/A
Data Processing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: N/A
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,525
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,837
  • Year 2: $81,333
  • Year 3: $92,019
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,492
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $78,577
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,314
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $76,877
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,624
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $71,599
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,592
  • Year 2: $60,920
  • Year 3: $64,540
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $60,325
  • Year 3: $64,302
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,243
  • Year 2: $49,572
  • Year 3: $60,999
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,788
  • Year 2: $37,748
  • Year 3: $58,090
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,818
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $57,268
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,065
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $57,167

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