U of U vs CWU-Ellensburg
Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Ellensburg, Washington, home to the University of Utah and Central Washington University, respectively. These institutions, while sharing a commitment to academic excellence, offer distinct experiences. The University of Utah, a public research university, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, including renowned offerings in medicine, engineering, and business. Central Washington University, a public liberal arts university, prides itself on its small class sizes and personalized attention, with strengths in education, nursing, and business administration. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates of these two esteemed universities, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Central Washington University |
![]() University of Utah |
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Overview |
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Location | Ellensburg, Washington | Salt Lake City, Utah |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 69.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 88.4% | 95.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$75
|
Undergraduate:
$55
Graduate:
$55
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SAT range | N/A | 1180 - 1390 |
ACT range | N/A | 22 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 13.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 54.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 10,767 | 18,302 |
Total number of admissions given out | 9,523 | 17,381 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,371 | 5,361 |
Yield rate | 14.4% | 30.8% |
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) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,248
Out of state:
$38,776
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In state:
$26,579
Out of state:
$46,031
|
Average net price | $17,645 | $12,972 |
Tuition |
In state:
$6,656
Out of state:
$23,184
|
In state:
$7,749
Out of state:
$27,201
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,645
Meal plan:
$7,957
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Room/dormitory:
$5,997
Meal plan:
$4,665
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
80.0%
Average amount $7,378 |
86.0%
Average amount $9,431 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
41.0%
Average amount $4,834 |
19.0%
Average amount $7,729 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,197 |
4.0%
Average amount $19,449 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
9,566
Men 47.0% Women 53.0% |
25,826
Men 51.8% Women 48.2% |
Graduate students |
610
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
8,638
Men 49.9% Women 50.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 6.7% | 39.6% |
International students | 2.7% | 8.5% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 3,755 | 6,250 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Washington California Oregon Hawaii Arkansas | Utah California Colorado Idaho Washington |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 53.6% | 67.2% |
Dropout rate | 44.0% | 25.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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