UWyoming vs CWU-Ellensburg

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the University of Wyoming (UW) and Central Washington University (CWU) stand as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these differences, providing prospective students with valuable insights to help them make informed decisions about their academic journey. Whether you're drawn to UW's strong engineering programs or CWU's focus on teacher education, this comprehensive analysis will guide you towards the university that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Central Washington University logo

Central Washington University

University of Wyoming logo

University of Wyoming

Overview

Location Ellensburg, Washington Laramie, Wyoming
Campus setting Town: Distant Town: Remote
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% 76.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 88.4% 96.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 10,767 5,645
Total number of admissions given out 9,523 5,463
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,371 1,477
Yield rate 14.4% 27.0%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,248

Out of state: $38,776
In state: $21,805

Out of state: $36,355
Average net price $17,645 $10,452
Tuition
In state: $6,656

Out of state: $23,184
In state: $4,620

Out of state: $19,170
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,645

Meal plan: $7,957
Room/dormitory: $4,822

Meal plan: $6,322
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

80.0%
Average amount $7,378
96.0%
Average amount $10,164
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $4,834
26.0%
Average amount $4,606
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $14,197
5.0%
Average amount $14,983

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,566
Men 47.0% Women 53.0%
8,869
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
Graduate students 610
Men 37.4% Women 62.6%
2,610
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Very Low
Out-of-state students 6.7% 41.2%
International students 2.7% 4.3%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 3,755 2,873
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 Wyoming Colorado California Texas Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 53.6% 60.2%
Dropout rate 44.0% 12.3%
Transferred out N/A 24.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,669
  • Year 2: $125,611
  • Year 3: $125,487
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,157
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $92,872
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $66,915
  • Year 3: $73,539
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,304
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $73,166
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,738
  • Year 2: $66,369
  • Year 3: $69,050
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,867
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $69,035
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,336
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $67,823
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,165
  • Year 2: $55,383
  • Year 3: $66,607
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,016
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $63,163
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,106
  • Year 2: $55,512
  • Year 3: $61,734

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