| Location: | Northwest |
| Setting: | Small Town Setting |
| Type: | Public |
| Size: | Large (5,000 to 10,000 Undergrad) |
| Mascot: | Wildcats |
Central Washington University, often abbreviated CWU, is an accredited four-year educational institution located in Ellensburg, Washington in the United States. The university originally opened in the late 19th century as a teacher's college, which is still one of the primary majors taken there. Central Washington University is located about 30 miles (50 km) north of Yakima, Washington on Interstate 82, and 110 miles (180 km) east-southeast of Seattle, Washington on Interstate 90.
Central Washington University originally opened up as Washington State Normal School in 1891. The school was founded to educate future elementary and junior high teachers. In 1894, the Washington State Normal School's first building was constructed and given the name Barge Hall. Before 1894, classes were held at the Washington Public School in Ellensburg.
The school's name changed to Central Washington College of Education in 1947, Central Washington State College in 1961, and finally to Central Washington University in 1977. It continues to be one of the fastest growing universities in the state of Washington. Dr. Jerilyn S. McIntyre is the current president.
In 1978, CWU began its campus radio station KCWU (88.1 The Burg), which has since flourished into a state-of-the-art broadcast facility.
On April 17, 1974 serial killer Ted Bundy abducted Susan Rancourt from the campus by asking her to help him load books into his Volkswagen Beetle. Two other students reported seeing him around campus in the days leading up to her disappearance.
The university was home to Washoe, believed to be the first nonhuman to acquire human language, from 1980 to October 30, 2007.
CWU has centers in Des Moines, Lynnwood, Moses Lake, Pierce County, Wenatchee and Yakima, Washington.
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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 35% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) Basketball (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) Baseball (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) Track (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | In-State | Out-of-State | |
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 4,766 | $ 13,100 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 4,143 | $ 12,477 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 623 | $ 623 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,857 | 21% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,425 | 33% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 2,045 | 22% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,403 | 34% | |
Any Aid: |
48% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 76% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 89% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 460, Math: 455 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 570, Math: 570 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 27% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 18, Verbal: 17, Math: 17 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 24, Verbal: 24, Math: 23 |
| Application Fee: | $ 50.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Recommended |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Not Required |
| High School Record: | Recommended |
| Recommendations: | Recommended |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
