Western Oregon University vs Washington State University (WSU)

Western Oregon University and Washington State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in the Pacific Northwest, offer distinct educational experiences. Western Oregon University, nestled in the heart of Monmouth, Oregon, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on personalized attention and undergraduate education. In contrast, Washington State University, located in the vibrant city of Pullman, Washington, is a comprehensive research university with a diverse range of academic programs and a larger student body. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, 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.
Washington State University logo

Washington State University

Western Oregon University logo

Western Oregon University

Overview

Location Pullman, Washington Monmouth, Oregon
Campus setting Town: Distant Town: Fringe
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 81.0% 65.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 85.8% 91.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
$60
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 18,197 2,798
Total number of admissions given out 15,607 2,562
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,007 544
Yield rate 25.7% 21.2%
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: $28,767

Out of state: $44,083
In state: $24,075

Out of state: $43,515
Average net price $11,877 $15,181
Tuition
In state: $10,457

Out of state: $25,773
In state: $8,460

Out of state: $27,900
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,400

Meal plan: $4,350
Room/dormitory: $9,002

Meal plan: $2,250
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

86.0%
Average amount $9,993
98.0%
Average amount $7,891
Students receiving federal student loan 27.0%
Average amount $5,042
93.0%
Average amount $4,049
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $15,454
6.0%
Average amount $13,398

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 24,278
Men 45.9% Women 54.1%
3,615
Men 32.6% Women 67.4%
Graduate students 5,565
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
414
Men 30.2% Women 69.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 15.2% 17.9%
International students 5.7% 3.0%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 7,043 1,333
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Washington California Oregon Idaho Hawaii Oregon California Washington Hawaii Alaska

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Education
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.5% 48.3%
Dropout rate 38.1% 49.1%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $143,888
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,911
  • Year 2: $123,178
  • Year 3: $127,531
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,080
  • Year 2: $100,915
  • Year 3: $120,737
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,957
  • Year 2: $112,073
  • Year 3: $119,910
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,275
  • Year 2: $105,813
  • Year 3: $117,478
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,971
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $96,760
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,468
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $88,746
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,693
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $81,535
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,112
  • Year 2: $68,808
  • Year 3: $80,939
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,531
  • Year 2: $72,881
  • Year 3: $79,650
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,160
  • Year 2: $52,607
  • Year 3: $59,453
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,118
  • Year 2: $48,667
  • Year 3: $49,493
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,328
  • Year 2: $44,021
  • Year 3: $47,168
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,952
  • Year 2: $32,467
  • Year 3: $45,939
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,943
  • Year 2: $38,529
  • Year 3: $45,374
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,778
  • Year 2: $47,327
  • Year 3: $42,815
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,362
  • Year 2: $38,505
  • Year 3: $42,630
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,319
  • Year 2: $36,382
  • Year 3: $40,832
Gerontology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,454
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $39,879
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,493
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $38,433

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