True College Verdict
C

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · 13,544 undergraduates · 27% receive Pell Grants · admits 93%
PublicMainly bachelor's degrees

About average. It ranks 440 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 65.6 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
About average
Average net price $19,963 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
71% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $16,500 against earnings of $64,305, a ratio of 0.26. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Western Washington University. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 71% of students graduate, better than 75% of four-year colleges.
  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $16,500 in federal loans against earnings of $64,305.

Why it is bad

Nothing stands out as clearly worse than similar colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
71%
Better than 75% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
79%
Better than 60% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$64,305
Better than 65% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$16,500
Better than 83% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$19,963
Better than 50% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$9,924
Out of state: $29,091

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Psychology, General240$29,793$15,833
Natural Resources Conservation and Research207$28,029$16,500
Computer and Information Sciences, General128$81,333$18,106
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other128$23,538$17,800
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies115$22,872$15,000
Marketing115$42,012$15,000
Sociology106$30,119$16,051
Special Education and Teaching102$45,826$22,564
Business Administration, Management and Operations99$48,522$17,500
Human Services, General94$31,990$12,500
Political Science and Government90$33,779$16,444
History87$25,426$13,368

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Western Washington University, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

Compare with other colleges Estimate your cost

The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.