Central Washington University

Central Washington University is a public institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,609 (fall 2022), its setting is rural, and the campus size is 380 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. Central Washington University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities West, #37. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,339; out-of-state tuition and fees are $26,393.

Nearly all students who attend Central Washington University (CWU), a public school in Ellensburg, are state residents. In fact, just about 5 percent of freshmen are from outside the state. CWU has about 30 clubs and organizations for students to check out, from the Rodeo Club to the Trombone Studio. Students can also get involved in several academic hubs on campus, including the Center for Excellence in Leadership and the Center for Student Empowerment. On the sports fields, the CWU Wildcats compete in the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). Graduate students can complete degrees through the Central Washington University Department of Art, among other departments. Notable alumni of Central Washington University include Dallas Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna, who led the Wildcats to a national football championship while at CWU, and Doug Wood, chief operating officer of clothing manufacturer Tommy Bahama.