Lori Meadows
Western Washington University (WWU) is a public university in Bellingham, Washington, United States. Founded in 1893, it has since undergone several name changes and now offers bachelor's and master's degrees and select doctoral programs. In 2022, WWU had a total enrollment of 14,747 students, with 13,801 undergraduate students and 664 full-time faculty members. The university's athletic teams are known as the Vikings and compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. WWU's main campus spans 215 acres in Bellingham, with additional off-campus facilities and academic locations across the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Bellingham, Washington, United States |
| Type | Public university |
| Year founded | 1893 |
| Campus size | 215 acres |
| Number of students (2022) | 14,747 |
| Number of undergraduate students (2022) | 13,801 |
| Number of students (Fall 2023) | 14,651 |
| Number of undergraduate students (Fall 2023) | 13,704 |
| Number of first-year students (Fall 2023) | 3,184 |
| Number of first-year students (Fall 2024) | 3,019 |
| Number of faculty | 664 (full-time) |
| Graduation rate (six-year rate, based on 2017 cohort) | 66% |
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What You'll Learn
Western Washington University (WWU) had 14,747 students in 2022
Western Washington University (WWU) is a public university in Bellingham, Washington, in the United States. It is the northernmost university in the contiguous United States. WWU was founded in 1893 as the state-funded New Whatcom Normal School, succeeding a private school for women founded in 1886. The university adopted its current name in 1977.
WWU offers bachelor's and master's degrees and a few doctorates. In 2022, the university had 14,747 students, with 13,801 of those being undergraduate students. The university also had 664 full-time faculty members. WWU's six-year graduation rate is 66%, based on data from the 2017 cohort.
The main campus of WWU is located in Bellingham, a city of about 95,000 people, overlooking Bellingham Bay and many of the San Juan Islands. The campus is 215 acres and includes the 38-acre Sehome Hill Arboretum, which is operated jointly with the City of Bellingham. Campus facilities include an electronic music studio, an air pollution lab, a motor vehicle research lab, a marine research lab, a wind tunnel, and two electron microscopes.
The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. WWU's athletic teams are known as the Vikings and compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Many students at WWU participate in organised student government through the Associated Students of Western Washington University (ASWWU).
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WWU's gender distribution is 42.4% male and 57.6% female
Western Washington University (WWU) is a public university in Bellingham, Washington, United States. It is the northernmost university in the contiguous United States. WWU was founded in 1893 as the state-funded New Whatcom Normal School, succeeding a private school of teaching for women founded in 1886. The university adopted its present name in 1977.
In fall 2023, WWU had a total undergraduate enrollment of 13,704 students, with a gender distribution of 42.4% male and 57.6% female. This means that out of the total undergraduate population, there were around 5,790 male students and 7,861 female students. WWU's athletic teams are known as the Vikings and compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
WWU's main campus is located in Bellingham, a city of about 95,000 people, overlooking Bellingham Bay and many of the San Juan Islands. The Bellingham campus is 215 acres and includes the 38-acre Sehome Hill Arboretum, jointly operated with the City of Bellingham. The university is also accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
WWU has seen an increase in total enrollment in recent years, with the number of first-year students enrolling for fall 2024 being 3,019, the sixth-largest incoming class ever. WWU offers over 200 academic programs and is recognised nationally for its successes, including being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 consecutive years.
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WWU's six-year graduation rate is 66%
Western Washington University (WWU) has a six-year graduation rate of 66%. This statistic refers to the percentage of students who graduate within six years of enrolling in a four-year college programme. WWU's graduation rate is higher than the national average for students in this category, which is 53.83% after six years.
The university's graduation rate is based on data from the 2017 cohort and reflects the percentage of students who completed their degrees within six years of starting. It's worth noting that WWU's graduation rate may vary for different cohorts and years.
In comparison, the four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 is typically higher, as they are considered "traditional students." At Washington College, for the class of 2015, the four-year graduation rate was 73%, and the six-year graduation rate was 76%.
Over time, the average college graduation rates have shown a positive trend. The average college graduation rate in the US for four-year schools was 60% from 2008 to 2021. More recently, in 2023, the overall college graduation rate for women was 66%, while for men, it was 58%.
Located in Bellingham, Washington, WWU is the northernmost university in the contiguous United States. The university offers bachelor's and master's degrees and a few doctoral programmes. As of 2022, WWU had a total enrollment of 14,747 students, with 13,801 undergraduate students and 664 full-time faculty members.
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WWU's Fall 2023 first-year class was its second-largest ever
Western Washington University (WWU) is a public university in Bellingham, Washington, United States. It is the northernmost university in the contiguous United States. WWU offers bachelor's and master's degrees and a few doctorates. The university's main campus is located on 215 acres in Bellingham, with additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, Poulsbo, and the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas.
The large entering classes of 2022 and 2023 affirm WWU's strong position for the coming years. WWU's Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, Shelli Soto, attributed the large class sizes to the university's special and vibrant community, as well as its strong academic and professional reputation. The campus community is enthusiastically engaging in new initiatives to increase opportunities for students.
WWU has been recognised for its successes and achievements. It has been named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 consecutive years. The university is also known for its sustainability efforts, with the Sierra Club recognising it as one of the most sustainable, green campuses in the nation. WWU has a high number of prestigious National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hollings Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, and Peace Corps volunteers. Additionally, it is ranked highly for graduates who go on to earn research doctorates.
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WWU's main campus is in Bellingham, Washington
Western Washington University (WWU) is a public university located in Bellingham, Washington, United States. Founded in 1893 as the state-funded New Whatcom Normal School, WWU has undergone several name changes before becoming the university it is today in 1977. The main campus is situated on 215 acres in Bellingham, overlooking Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. The city of Bellingham has a population of around 95,000 people and is about 90 miles (140 km) north of Seattle and 55 miles (89 km) south of Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Bellingham campus offers a range of facilities for students, including an electronic music studio, an air pollution lab, a motor vehicle research lab, a marine research lab, a wind tunnel, and two electron microscopes. The university also operates the Sehome Hill Arboretum jointly with the City of Bellingham, spanning 38 acres. WWU's Vehicle Research Institute has received recognition from Automobile Magazine, which praised the university as "very possibly the best school in the country for total car design."
In addition to its main campus, WWU has expanded its reach through partnerships with community colleges and community centres in the Puget Sound and Central Salish Sea regions. The university also offers programs at off-campus locations, including a Cybersecurity program at the Kirkland campus of Lake Washington Institute of Technology and marine research facilities at Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes, Washington.
WWU has a strong focus on athletics, with its teams known as the Vikings. They compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and have achieved numerous conference championships in various sports, including volleyball, soccer, track and field, and basketball. The university has also produced an eight-time NCAA Division II National Champion women's rowing team.
As of 2022, WWU had a total enrolment of 14,747 students, with 13,801 undergraduate students and 664 full-time faculty members. The university has experienced fluctuations in enrolment over the years, with a notable increase during the 1960s when its student population grew from 3,000 to over 10,000. More recently, in 2024, WWU welcomed its sixth-largest incoming class, with 3,019 first-year students.
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Frequently asked questions
As of Fall 2023, Western Washington University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 13,704 students. In 2022, the university had 14,747 students, 13,801 of whom were undergraduates.
3,019 first-year students enrolled at Western Washington University for Fall 2024, making it the sixth-largest incoming class in the university's history.
No, the university has experienced periods of exponential growth. For example, in the 1960s, enrollment increased from 3,000 students to over 10,000.
