Washington State University
106 Van Doren Hall, Pullman, WA 99164-5210
#16 in Best Online Bachelor's Programs (tie)
Overall Score 88/100
Washington State University Bachelor's Program Overview
Washington State University, a public institution, has been offering online bachelor's degree programs since before 2000-2001. All of the online classes are recorded and archived so students can access lecture material at their convenience. When applying for the online programs at Washington State University, it's important to note that the deadline is rolling.
About the Online Bachelor's Degree Program
Content in this section is provided by the school.
In addition to the same faculty and robust learning experience we offer unique opportunities for meaningful connection with peers, faculty and alumni. Students participate in co- and extra-curricular activities for a well-rounded college experience that complements and transcends the online classroom. Our Student Involvement program includes a dedicated online student government that advocates for adult learners and the Global Connections program that offers virtual interactive events.
In addition to the same faculty and robust learning experience we offer unique opportunities for meaningful connection with peers, faculty and alumni. Students participate in co- and extra-curricular activities for a well-rounded college experience that complements and transcends the online classroom. Our Student Involvement program includes a dedicated online student government that advocates for adult learners and the Global Connections program that offers virtual interactive events.
2024 Bachelor's Program Quick Stats
- Enrollment
- 3,189
- Tuition Per Credit
- $633
- Application Deadline
- Rolling
Washington State University Rankings
Best Online Programs Ranking Indicators
See how this program stacks up against 338 others, based on factors used in the U.S. News methodology.
Engagement rank
39
Engagement score
84
Faculty Credentials and Training rank
42
Faculty Credentials and Training score
91
Services and Technologies rank
94
Services and Technologies score
67
Expert Opinion score (out of 5)
3.4
Other rankings at this school: Colleges, Grad Schools, Global
Washington State University Bachelor's Program Data
Most popular majors by degrees conferred at Washington State University
Psychology, General
19%Social Sciences, General
15%Operations Management and Supervision
11%Accounting
10%Criminology
6%Applications
Application deadline (U.S. residents)
Rolling
Application deadline (international students)
Rolling
Priority application deadline
N/A
Notification of admissions
Data appear as submitted by school
On a rolling basis beginning Aug. 24
Application website
WebsiteProgram website
WebsiteAdmissions website
WebsiteDirector of admissions
Andrew Brewick
Admissions phone
(888) 468-6978Admissions email
admissions@wsu.eduAdmissions requirements same as campus-based students' requirements
Yes
Sometimes denies admittance to qualified applicants
Yes
Requirements
Accept transfer students
Yes
Transfer students may earn advanced standing credit
Yes
Dual enrollment at separate college allowed
Yes
Can earn degree entirely outside U.S.
Yes
Application essay required
No
High school completion requirements
Diploma or GED required
Minimum high school GPA required
2
Academic admissions factors
Rigor of secondary school record
Not Considered
Class rank
Not Considered
GPA
Very Important
Recommendation(s)
Not Considered
Standardized test scores
Not Considered
Application essay
Not Considered
Non-academic admissions factors
Interview
Not Considered
Extracurricular activities
Not Considered
Talent/ability
Not Considered
Character/personal qualities
Not Considered
First-generation college student
Not Considered
Alumni/alumnae relations
Not Considered
Geographical residence
Not Considered
State residency
Not Considered
Religious affiliation/commitment
Not Considered
Race/ethnicity
Not Considered
Volunteer work
Not Considered
Work experience
Not Considered
Applicant's interest level
Not Considered
Entering Class Stats
Applicants
1,844
Female applicants
1,292
Male applicants
552
Applicants accepted
1,329
Female applicants accepted
930
Male applicants accepted
399
Applicants enrolled
860
Female applicants enrolled
607
Male applicants enrolled
253
Acceptance rate
72%
Distinguishing Characteristics
School type
Public
Terms
Other
Academic calendar
Content is provided by the school
Primarily 16 week semesters with a variety of special sessions of various duration. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 weeks
First year of program
Before 2000-2001
Faculty
242
144
Full-time faculty with terminal degree
196
Part-time faculty with terminal degree
67
Full-time faculty whose highest degree is a bachelor's
2
Part-time faculty whose highest degree is a bachelor's
5
Full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty
106
School finances online instructor training
Yes
Required hours of initial training
20
Formal peer review of instructors
Yes
Continuing online instruction education required
Yes
Class Size
Average class size
28
Maximum class size
N/A
Class sizes
2-9 students
21.2%10-19 students
27.6%20-29 students
23%30-39 students
10.4%40-49 students
6.4%50-99 students
10.7%100+ students
0.6%Programs
Online bachelor's degree programs
21
608
Most popular majors by degrees conferred at Washington State University
Psychology, General
19%Social Sciences, General
15%Operations Management and Supervision
11%Accounting
10%Criminology
6%All Majors
History
- History, General
Psychology
- Psychology, General
Social Sciences
- Social Sciences, General
- Anthropology, General
- Criminology
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Political Science and Government, General
- Sociology, General
Physical Sciences
- Geology/Earth Science, General
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
- Computational Science
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
English Language and Literature/Letters
- English Language and Literature, General
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
- Human Development and Family Studies, General
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
- Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Operations Management and Supervision
- Accounting
- Hospitality Administration/Management, General
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
- Criminal Justice/Police Science
Integration With Campus
Yes
Classes include campus-based students
No
Collaboration among online and campus-based students
Encouraged but not mandatory
Students enroll as online students
Yes, they are bound to courses as online students after enrollment
Credits earned online equal earned on campus
Yes
Faculty who teach online also teach on campus
All
Same curricula for online and campus-based students
All
Possible in-person attendance requirements
Orientations
No
Group projects/simulations
No
Exams
No
Delivery
Archived classes
All
Classes can be received live
None
Live online/on-campus classes after 5 p.m.
N/A
Online chatrooms
Yes
Web conferencing (webinars)
N/A
Zoom or other visual software
Yes
New-student orientation
Yes
Review and sign ethics statement
Yes
Percentage of classes with lectures
51-75
Number of times per week students must login to a typical course
2
4
4
Courses requiring students to work collaboratively with other students
Required in the majority of courses
Class participation graded
Yes
Exams
Yes
Same exams are administered only once
Yes
Exams have random question order
Yes
Yes
Number of settings in which in-person exams are administered
Multiple geographically dispersed settings
Anti-plagiarism screening required for essay assignments
Depends
Measures to instill academic integrity
Data appear as submitted by school
All students authenticate into university systems, including online courses, using multifactor authentication. The University Academic Integrity policy is included in all online course syllabi. A culture of academic integrity is supported through a focus on instructor engagement and interaction with students. Instructors are encouraged to employ a variety of methods to assess student work. WSU contracts with and offers to instructors a third party virtual proctoring center to ensure quality and integrity of assessment. This process includes capturing and storing the student image with photo ID and monitoring the student desk top and test taking throughout the assessment.
Standardized copyright policy for course materials
Yes
End-of-course evaluations
Always
Course evaluation response rate
43%
List of Student Assessments Administered
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
Yes
National Survey of Student Engagement results publicly available
Yes
Priorities Survey for Online Learners (Noel Levitz)
Yes
Priorities Survey for Online Learners results publicly available
Yes
Graduation & Retention
Credits needed to graduate
120
Credits that must be earned through school
30
Total program graduates (2022-2023)
738
New student retention rate (2022)
New student retention rate (2021)
New student retention rate (2020)
New student retention rate (2019)
Limited time to complete degree
No
Within 3 years
Within 4 years
Within 5 years
Within 6 years
Within 4 years
Within 6 years
Within 8 years
Within 4 years
Within 6 years
Within 8 years
Within 4 years
Within 6 years
Within 8 years
Within 4 years
Within 6 years
Within 8 years
Within 4 years
Within 6 years
Within 8 years
Within 4 years
Within 6 years
Within 8 years
Enrollment
3,189
Female enrollment
2,254
Male enrollment
935
Student gender distribution
Enrolled students with military experience
180
Enrolled students who are active service members
69
Enrolled students who are veterans
111
Average credits held by (2022-2023) graduates when starting program
56
Entering class progress toward degree
New entrants who are first-time, first-year students
10%
New entrants who are employed
N/A
Composition
Students 22 and younger
36%
Students ages 23-39
52%
Students 40 or older
12%
Average student age
28 years
Region from which most U.S. students come
Pacific
Degree-seeking student diversity
White
61.3%Hispanic/Latino
16.1%Two or more races
7.3%Asian
5.8%Black or African American
4.4%Race and/or ethnicity unknown
2.2%American Indian or Alaska Native
1.1%Nonresident aliens
1%Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
0.7%International
Countries most represented by students
- China
- Mexico
- South Korea
- Germany
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Taiwan
- Canada
- Colombia
Number of countries represented by international students
20
Technology
Apple
N/A
PC
N/A
Recommended internet speed
N/A
Live streaming video
Yes
Live streaming audio
Yes
Recorded video
Yes
Recorded audio
Yes
Software-based readers
Yes
Application for display on tablet computer
Yes
Description of tablet application
Canvas Learning Management System and mobile app
Application for display on smartphone
Yes
Description of application for smartphone
Canvas Learning Management System and mobile app
Bulletin boards
Yes
Simulations
Yes
Online labs
Yes
Learning management system
Yes
Online course development
In-house
Yes
Adaptive learning
No
Discussion board
Yes
Learning analytics platform
Yes
Types of Learning Management Systems Used
Canvas
Yes
Services
Academic advising
Yes
Bookstore
Yes
Career placement assistance
Yes
Financial aid office/services
Yes
Access to live librarian
Yes
Local area network
Yes
Mentoring
Yes
Technical support
Yes
Live tutoring
Yes
Writing workshops
Yes
Admissions counseling
Yes
Course registration
Yes
Resume help services
Yes
Degree audit
Yes
Transcript services
Yes
Support From Faculty
Weekly office hours (available remotely)
4
Expectation that instructors will respond to questions within specific timeframe
Yes
Instructor response expected within (hours)
24
24-7 live tech support
Yes
ADA compliance
Central office reviews each course
Tech support availability
Weekend days (7:00 a.m. - 5:59 p.m.)
Always
Weekend nights (6:00 p.m. - 9:59 p.m.)
Always
Weekend overnights (10:00 p.m. - 6:59 a.m.)
Always
Weekdays (7:00 a.m. - 5:59 p.m.)
Always
Weeknights (6:00 p.m. - 9:59 p.m.)
Always
Weekday overnights (10:00 p.m. - 6:59 a.m.)
Always
Costs
$568
$568
$633
$633
In-state tuition for all military veterans
Yes
Financial Aid
Financial aid available
Both institutional and federal aid are available
Institution is GI Bill certified
Yes
New students who use GI Bill benefits
N/A
Institution participates in Yellow Ribbon Program
Yes
Yellow Ribbon Access
First-come, first-served
Yellow Ribbon Funding
Limits or caps funding
$23,602
Proportion of 2022-2023 graduates with debt
61%
Careers
School tracks alumni
Yes
Postgraduate outcomes
Data appear as submitted by school
Students are prepared to meet the demands of a dynamic and diverse workforce. Current students and alumni have access to career services including career assessment, resume writing, networking, interview techniques, internships, and job interviews.
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