Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Central Washington University is a public regional university located in Ellensburg, Washington. Central Washington University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Central Washington University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $55,685 10 years after enrolling, 12th in Washington, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Central Washington University bachelor students earn 1% less than the national average. Central Washington University is ranked 8th in Washington.
Central Washington University’s median net annual cost of $16,514 and average years to graduate of 4.5 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Central Washington University sorted by number of graduates - Education, Business Administration, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Education (subject specific), Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,514
Average years to graduate
4.5
Construction Mgmt.
Rank: #9
Economic score: 1.3
Computer Science
Rank: #194
Economic score: 2.54
Air Transportation
Rank: #18
Economic score: 2.65
Computer science
Rank: #211
Economic score: 2.84
Social Sciences
Rank: #418
Economic score: 3.67
Public Health
Rank: #57
Economic score: 4.86
Health & Fitness
Rank: #146
Economic score: 5.22
Sociology
Rank: #162
Economic score: 5.84
Biology
Rank: #460
Economic score: 11.31
Music
Rank: #150
Economic score: 155.45
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 5 graduate programs at Central Washington University - Health & Fitness, Computer science, Clinical / Counseling Psych, Educ. Administration, Consumer Sciences - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.5 years. 64% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Central Washington University is 6% higher than the state average, and 7% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Central Washington University, Pell Grant recipients represent 33% of the measured graduating class, 2% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Central Washington University graduates within 4.5 years.
Central Washington University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Central Washington University’s economic mobility score of 24.8 is calculated by adjusting the 2.15 economic score of lower-income students by the 33% pell grant recipients within the student body. Central Washington University’s EMS of 24.8 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Central Washington University pays $16,514 a year, $9,539 less than the $26,053 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,514
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Central Washington University, 80% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,514 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 42% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,469. This is 12% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,834
Pell grants
$4,456
State grants
$5,065
Institutional grants
$3,368
Central Washington University offers 30 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Central Washington University offers 19 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
49
Percentage of programs online
18%
Central Washington University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 88% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 10,767 applicants, of which 9,523 were admitted and 1,371 enrolled. Central Washington University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
85%
83%
Female
55%
59%
First time
41%
59%
In-state
93%
68%
1st generation
40%
35%
White
52%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
18%
15%
Asian
5%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
1%
0.3%
Other
20%
12%